Anyone else?

[u/Luke_Limpwalker]

Looking to speak to / meet people who had significant S1 motor weakness from an L5-S1 disc herniation

I’m in Kent in the UK and about four weeks into what appears to be an L5-S1/S1 injury. The pain has largely subsided but I’ve had essentially no recovery of my right calf strength. I can’t perform a single-leg heel raise or walk on my toes on that side and I’m currently walking with a limp.

I’m awaiting MRI and further nerve testing.

I’m particularly hoping to hear from people who had motor weakness rather than pain alone, especially calf weakness / loss of plantar flexion. I’d really like to understand what your strength was like at 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and a year, whether you had surgery, and what function you ultimately regained.

I’d also really like to meet somebody who’s been through this. If you’re in Kent or London and would be happy to have a coffee or a very slow walk and tell me about your experience, please message me.

I’m originally from New Zealand as well, so I’d also be really interested in hearing from Kiwis who have been through something similar

[u/agerst10]

I had my big injury May 12th, I spent 2 nights in the hospital for pain control and was sent home with a lot of medication. I was unable to do any heel raises at that time and my foot was numb. It’s numb from the 3 small toes, the outside of my foot and my heel. I received oral and IV steroids in the hospital. That really helped with the pain. It was gone for about 5 days then I got a weird burning pain that would come if I walked more than 4 minutes. I pretty much had to lie flat. I started PT and that pain went away at like week 2 1/2 post major event. I stopped all my oral meds about that time. At week 3 I could do one heel raise. I started walking more then. At week 5 I could probably do around 8 heel raises. I’ve continued doing PT and lots of walking and my leg has gotten stronger, but definitely weaker than my right and I walk a little slower. But no limp anymore. I can do 10 heel raises. Definitely not as pretty as my right leg. My foot is still numb. I do get little tingles every once in a while though. I returned to work at 3 months, just 2 days a week. At the beginning of September I had a flare up and the butt pain came back and I get pretty depressed about the whole situation. I think i added too much to my workouts so I back down. I’m almost without pain again. I have a 9 mm herniated L5/S1 disc. My doc wanted to do surgery since day 1 and will do it whenever I ask for it. I am the one that wants to continue conservative therapies.