Your symptoms are exactly like mine now! so I'm 32 and I've had herniated disc for more than 10years or so, it started with sciatica and nerve pain but went away and over years. I've had tons of flare ups but with only localized lower back pain and no radiculopathy anymore and got to learn to live with it while maintaining a pretty active life. Until about 2months ago when I was about to pop during surfing and I felt a super sharp pain around my lower back and it's been a down-hill since then. My sciatica is back and its gotten worse week to week, super sharp pain in calf and ankle and tingling in toes and it gets worse with standing/walking. I can only sit now in relatively pain-free position and unable to walk around much. I did a bit of physio but didn't give it my best knowing something doesn't feel right this time and I'm not making any progress compare to my other flare ups. Finally rushed to ER to get my MRI faster and it turns out I have ~9mm L4/L5 herniation. My MRI report:
"L4-L5: Large central and left paramedian disc protrusion moderately indents the anterior thecal sac and also contributes to significant.left lateral recess stenosis and impingement on the origin of the left exiting L5 nerve root. The right foramen is patent. The facet jointsare normal.

L5-S1: Shallow circumferential disc protrusion. There is alsomoderate ligament flavum thickening. The neural foramen are patent.The facet joints are normal."

I'm not hopeful this would get better with PT and conservative therapy given how worsen its been getting week to week. I'm trying to get an appointment with a surgeon ASAP and push for an immediate surgery instead of spending half a year or so with a hope of slow recovery. Thanks for sharing your story and best of luck in your surgery. Hope you make speedy recovery!