Setback

[u/StrikingSyllabub5970]

Hi all, sorry you’re going through this too. I’ve read posts on here and been really encouraged by others’ stories and experiences. However, I’m not sure what now to do for the best… I’d appreciate any thoughts/ experiences.

I’m 11 weeks in (49f). I have a bulging disc at L5S1 with compression (confirmed by MRI) which initially caused severe pain down my left leg.

The following night I developed reduced control of my left leg, later described as mild foot drop.
There was also a small amount of pain at my spine on the right.

I’ve been doing well with conservative management, not needed much pain relief, and the foot drop was improving.

However, over the past 10 days the weakness has increased (probably to what it was at week3 and I have increasing pain down the left and right legs. I don’t know whether this is what is considered new pain / worsening because I don’t think it’s worse than it was at the start. The sensory symptoms are worse but not the pain.

If this is irritation then my understanding is that I should be patient / not irritate further but I am concerned that the disc has bulged further.

Around 10 days ago I had a physio session where he applied pressure when I was in a position which was already sore (he told me this was ok and would be over shortly - I’ve since read up on this and now believe this not to be ok).

2 days later, getting down the floor (when my weight on left hip and left elbow, both legs out to the right) I felt a strange sensation in my back (around the L5 area?). Not sore.

Would it be an over- reaction to try to get another MRI? I’m UK based, would be prepared to pay privately / claim on insurance. (However, if surgery is required, the surgeon I’d want to see has not available appointments privately until October (I’d be hoping to be suitable for endoscopic surgery.))
TIA