When I woke up one day in June 2003, I had this very intense and unusual pain in my buttocks, unlike anything I had before. It was difficult to walk or sit. I went to a chiropractor who did some adjustments and it got worse. It was a few days later that I noticed some numbness and tingling in my left thigh than got worse and included pain. Then the whole thing just got too painful and I went to the ER and was admitted and they did an MRI and found the herniated disc. I remained in the hospital for a week, had epidural steroid injections and was on vicodin and neurontin, but what mostly helped was time. The nerve damage is permanent as is the numbness and tingling in thigh (but I have lived with this for 8 years - it is tolerable).

So, in this case - there was elapsed time from the herniation to the numbness/tingling.

The MRI is the next step, although before it is scheduled I am going to ask why it isn't being done to my lower back to address the foot issue.

Thanks, again, for your thoughtful response and links.