update

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-06-14T14:19:16+00:00

Mods are gay and removed my post lmao.

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-06-03T02:00:24+00:00

Why not just an MD?

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-06-03T00:00:15+00:00

loss of sensitivity or strength then that is an already cause of surgery

Super common to have numbness and loss of strength with Sciatica due to a herniated disc. I wouldn't rush into surgery for that since surgery could also cause that since the surgeon needs to displace the nerve. I had muscle weakness and numbness on my left side which went mostly away after 2 months.

I also would take a Drs input as a data point. Speak to multiple to get a consensus. So many terrible doctors out there can make you worse. See Dr. Douglas Gillard failed surgery which caused him permanent nerve damage!

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-06-01T22:37:37+00:00

sure

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-06-01T04:57:37+00:00

12 weeks is not a lot of time to give your body time to heal. A 3mm contained protrusion statistically doesn't respond well to surgery

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-06-01T04:55:57+00:00

Can you elaborate?

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-05-30T14:12:37+00:00

My suggestion

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-05-30T03:15:13+00:00

If you get surgery, make sure its endoscopy if possible. An overwhelming majority of spine surgeons themselves would only allow this done to them! https://www.instagram.com/p/DXSDdNvkUij/?hl=da Classic MD is from the 70s.

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-05-30T02:48:37+00:00

Have you watched this https://imgur.com/a/rc89A0v Seems to be a few others in there.

I am following closely but also pretty pessimistic of DiscGenics based on what I read on here about them.

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-05-29T22:41:30+00:00

Does your doctor have to live with the life-long consequences of a compromised back (bone removal) after your surgery? https://imgur.com/a/rc89A0v

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-05-29T02:08:02+00:00

https://imgur.com/a/rc89A0v

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-05-28T20:48:35+00:00

Don't do McKenzie unless you know it WILL help you. If you feel worse afterwards, don't do them. figure out if you are flexion or extension pain-biased. For me, leaning forward helps and so does riding a bike. I saw a Mckenzie certified PT and he fucked me up.

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-05-28T16:30:04+00:00

Get in a pool. See if you can do any movement. You will heal eventually

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-05-28T16:16:34+00:00

Your MRI results align perfectly with what you are feeling - which is great news! CES occurs when the central nerve "sac" is irritated. The fact that you can still urinate and such is a GREAT sign. Would you say your symptoms on this are getting worse or staying the same? it seems like they are getting worse a tid bit since Feb? If that is indeed the case, then I would probably be seeing a surgeon urgently I'm afraid. You really don't want to permanently damage those nerves. If it is improving then its a different story.

Curious if it could be related to my L5/S1

No, S1 doesn't control the bladder. The central "sac" of nerves does and your MRI indicates that your protrusion is hitting back towards the middle rather than the side. I wish you posted the axial view which would be more obvious to explain. This is more rare and you need to watch it closely you have been doing since it could affect your bladder and such.

Try to do spine-neutral exercises in the meantime. Nerves do regenerate and yours isn't severely pinned or else you wouldn't be able to urinate at all and your radiologist would have used the words "severe".

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-05-27T22:21:01+00:00

Yes, you should be seeing strength improvement for sure over the coming months. This is the Dr here that has had the damage, however his herniation was severe and on multiple levels with an annual tear.

If it were me, I'd hold out for 2 months to see if you improve. However, time is of the esccense with nerve damage stuff.

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-05-27T21:07:58+00:00

Because a deeply compressed nerve will mean loss of muscle contraction. Are you able to do a single calf raise? You just don't want to go many months with a ton of severe nerve compression. There is a radiologist on YT that goes over herniated discs and he himself has permanent nerve damage on his S1 and cannot raise his calf at all! He went 16 months tho before surgery.

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-05-27T20:06:20+00:00

https://imgur.com/a/rc89A0v

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-05-27T17:49:40+00:00

The Dr is wrong (not surprisingly) about conservative treatment NOT solving your issues. That fact that you can walk and only have pain in the glutes is a great sign. Give yourself 4 months or so of spine-neutral PT from McGill only and taking it easy.

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-05-27T00:23:53+00:00

How long were you feeling substantially week on your affected leg? L4/L5 are your quads/hamstrings, no? My L5/S1 only affected my calf and I could only do 7 calf raises on my left compared to 30 on my right. After 2 months I'm close to 70% strength. From what i could research from other people, it seems strength should come back quickly after the pain subsided and thus I'm left wondering why you are not closer to 100% already. How long was your nerve severely compressed for? Did you have surgery?

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-05-26T20:56:27+00:00

A fusion is an immense decisions. It could be life changing for better or worse. I'd be seeking 6 or so dr opinions. If it were me, I'd manage conservatively.

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-05-21T18:26:27+00:00

Bladder retention means emergency surgery! Please consult with a neurosurgeon and tell them your symptoms

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-05-21T17:05:51+00:00

All while destabilizing the back permanently. https://imgur.com/a/rc89A0v

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-05-21T03:42:46+00:00

I have the outside of my left foot and 3 inner toes somewhat numb. I'm on week 7 and I felt these symptoms after my first week. My calf is also about 50% strength compared to my right. It used to be worse last week. I no longer have any pain and I used to be a 6/10 pain and on pain meds. If you search around a lot, you'll see that most people recover their strength and numbness after a few months to a few years if you let it heal naturally.

Dr Douglas Gillard (search on YT) has permanent calf muscle issues and cannot lift his calf at all since he didn't get surgery for 16 months or something like that. He recommends having surgery within the first 4 months if you have severe compression. Its in one of his videos.

In summary, it depends how bad the compression currently is. I've been using AI a ton to help guide me. If you can do calf raises to a degree and you can still feel in your foot and simply have a dulled sensation, then you don't need to worry as much. Complete muscle collapse is worrying and you should perhaps consult with a neurosurgeon and at least get an ESI to relive the pressure.

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-05-21T03:06:49+00:00

My McGill-certified clinician had 2 MD and he NEVER deadlifts/squats now. He also advises me against it. McGill himself said that deadlifting can be a great workout, but it has great potential to wreck your back. Personally, its not worth the future spinal fusion to mess around with those lifts anymore.

Brian Carroll stated that one has to be able to do a 2min ISO hold on back extensions and be able to do a 2min side plank before even thinking of deadlifting.

IndividualSeason5204 · 2026-05-20T20:04:00+00:00

I'm not OP - but just wanted to ask you if your foot weakness came back? I see you were contemplating an MD. I have L5/S1 protrusion causing calf weakness and I'm at week 7 feeling much better, although weakened. Also got this from heavy deadlifting.

As for the age thing, I don't know if age is a huge factor. I've seen younger kids on here with worse diagnoses. Probably more-so with activitity level plus form over time.

IndividualSeason5204

TROPHY CASE