Hartford denied my STD claim 4 days before my scheduled disc surgery, citing 'no objective evidence of disability' despite the MRI showing a 9mm L5-S1 herniation. What am i supposed to do here?

I'm losing my mind a little. I've been dealing with worsening back pain since November. Saw my PCP in December, got referred to ortho in January, got the MRI in February. 9mm herniation at L5-S1 pressing on the nerve root, confirmed by both the radiologist and the surgeon. Conservative treatment (PT, epidural steroid injections, anti-inflammatories) for 10 weeks did basically nothing. Surgery scheduled for next Tuesday.

My employer's STD plan is through Hartford. I filed the claim three weeks ago with all the documentation, including the surgeons note recommending 6 weeks out of work post-op for a desk job (i drive a delivery route, so it would be longer). The Hartford packet was so thick i had to staple it in three sections. PCP attending statement, surgeons statement, MRI report, PT records, ESI records, the works.

Got the denial Friday afternoon. Reason listed: "the medical records submitted do not contain objective evidence supporting an inability to perform the material duties of your occupation." That is the entire rationale. Four sentences total in the denial letter. The MRI is literally a picture of the problem. I drive 6-9 hours a day and lift packages up to 70 pounds. How is that not objective?

The surgery is Tuesday. Hartford appeals can take 45-90 days. I genuinely do not know what to do between now and then. Has anyone been through this specific situation? Do i appeal first, lawyer up, file a state DOI complaint, or all three? I cant afford to be out of work for 6+ weeks unpaid and i also cant exactly skip the surgery. Any guidance appreciated, im pretty lost.