Bummer about the pool! Perhaps the physio will have an aquatic therapy pool that you could use - crossing fingers.

As far as I understand about the modic changes with DDD is that those changes can occur and actually go back and forth between type 1 and 2 depending on the stage of the inflammatory response. From my understanding and based on what you shared it seems that it is a 'focal' change meaning it is only seen at the level where the disc is protruding. If it was a 'diffuse' finding then those changes would signify something else as the cause and further evaluation. I would guess that the modic change isn't what your doctor will be concerned about as the nerve displacement and clear aggravation is the reason for your pain.

Just in case you are thinking your immune system is behaving poorly in this - it isn't. It is doing exactly what it should be doing by sending the inflammation and triggering pain to warn you that something is wrong. Just like an alarm system.

What day do you see your spine doctor?