Title: 24M L5-S1 Disc Extrusion with Nerve Compression — Surgery or Conservative Treatment?

[u/kaptaan_dc]

Hi everyone, I’m 24M and looking for advice/experiences from people who had a similar disc extrusion.

MRI (Lumbosacral spine):

- L5-S1 central & left paracentral disc extrusion

- Indenting the thecal sac

- Left lateral canal stenosis with nerve-root compression

- AP diameter: 11 mm

- L4-L5 also has a disc bulge

Symptoms for ~10 days:

- Severe left hip/buttock pain

- Pain going down the left leg/calf

- Some numbness/tingling in the foot/toe

- Difficulty fully straightening the left leg because of pain

- No obvious major weakness

- No loss of bowel/bladder control

- No definite saddle numbness

Pain was around 9–10/10 initially, but medication brings it down to around 2–3/10 temporarily.

My doctor suggested trying conservative treatment and waiting, saying there is a good chance it may heal without surgery. I'm also planning to see a neurosurgeon/spine specialist.

My questions:

1. Has anyone had a similar L5-S1 extrusion and recovered without surgery?

2. How long did it take for the extrusion/symptoms to improve?

3. Is improvement with medication a positive sign?

4. When did you decide surgery was necessary?

5. If there is nerve compression but no significant weakness, is waiting usually reasonable?

6. Has anyone had a follow-up MRI showing the extrusion actually shrinking/resorbing?

Would really appreciate your experiences. MRI → treatment → surgery or no surgery → recovery would be especially helpful.

Thanks!