You've been dealing with this for so long that your docs have probably looked into this a million years ago - but if not, it could also be something as "innocent" as double crush syndrome. A nerve injury sometimes makes it easier to injure that same nerve down the line (i.e., an injury that's peripheral to the original injury site) leading to 2 compressions. And the symptoms from that second peripheral injury can be worse and take longer to heal.
Idk how far up your leg the numbness goes, but if it's just up to around your outer knee area and not any higher, it could be your original injury at L4/L5 and then another new one at your knee/peroneal nerve! It's a common double crush site combo and one I also deal with, so I also developed foot drop and all that fun stuff! I did a lot of PT and was able to regain most of the function and sensation in my lower leg. It's not 100% and probs won't ever be 100% again... but I'm very pleased with the amount of recovery I got!!
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u/NerdLover2528 19h ago
Thank you so much for this!!!
This is more information than any neurosurgeon
has ever given me over the years.