Hey, New to the forums here and I stumbled across the site while looking for information on calf weakness because of a herniated disc. I have a herniation at L3-L4 and a bulge at L4-L5. According to the radiologist, i'm looking at nerve compression at both levels, with mild stenosis.

Here's the deal, I have had pain for months and it suck, but it is manageable. About a month ago, after some home inversion therapy my right hamstring was super sore. I woke up the next morning with a limp, unable to do a calf raise on the right leg, unable to flex the outside of the calf or my gluet. I am also unable to raise my big toe. Walking with a limp and unable to run or be active.

I know that all of these symptoms are from nerve compression. But what I don't know is are they permenant nerve damage? Should I be walking staying active or lying in bed? Icing or Heating? My GP sent me to PT and gave me some mobic. I went to PT asked them about my issues and they have me build up my core, thats about it. I finally got a referral to talk to a Neurosurgeon, but since I am in the military I need to wait for this to be authorized, been a week still waiting just to schedule an appointment. To make matters worse. There are no local NS so I will have to fly to a location where there is an NS. This will require me to process a s*** ton of paperwork just to get a consult.

Meanwhile, I have been scouring the internet, reading message boards and medical information sites looking for information on leg weakness. It's all the same stuff I already know. I haven't seem to find any success stories for calf weakness, I do see a lot of people who do not recommend surgery of any type. So what are my options? I'm useless as a soldier since I can't walk, run or do anything that pertains to my job? Do I just play the waiting game and see if my calf returns? I guess I'm really looking for someone with simmilar issues that has any positive outcome from their situation. Or, any insight into how I can make my situation better or what treatment / surgery worked for them.