So I herniated or developed a bulge in my L5 S1 disk 14 weeks ago while training for Triathalon. It went out on a run and the follwoing days my right leg went through complete numbness, to complete calf lock up to severe sciatic pain. Left leg fine apart from nagging feeling of a hamstring tear. No lower back pain at all apart from the lsight tenderness I had had for months, noticable only when rolling over in bed to turn out the bed side lamp!

14 weeks out, my right leg is nearly 100%, but my left leg has developed over the last 4 weeks, the feeling of someone pouring hot water over it in different places, very surface centric sensation. Sometimes also into my lower buttocks. This can be pretty much taken away with some over the counter pain relief.

Is this normal, I have seen two specialists and they seem to think its all part of the process?

I am walking 10km 3 times a week and swimming around 6km a week. And have been doing full on core strengthening for momths.

I don't want surgery, but am getting frustrated, how long do you go down the conervative track for?

Also one surgeon told me a discsectomy is pointless, while the other said it is the best option?

Any advice welcomed...