HOW CAN I TELL IF I AM MAKING MY DISC BULGE WORSE?

[Numbum]

Back in April i had a serve disc herniated at L5/S1. No operation due to covid outbreak. I have completely weaned myself off all medication but am left with nerve damage on left buttock and saddle which has created sensation loss. I have suffered with back over several years but this last episode i felt no back pain just sciatic pain. I am starting to introduce strengthening exercises and obviously don't want to aggravate my condition as this will cause additional loss of bowel and bladder function. So as I'm numb how will i know?

[Emma2017]

Hmm yeah the L5/S1 disc, the one that was the irritation of my life for years. After 3 microdiscectomies I finally had a fusion earlier this year.. Now you are asking a question that is difficult to answer for us. If you have some numbness it’s not the end of the world. I had the first discectomy due to slow onset CE and was left with numbness in my buttock. This in itself is ok, I had a bumpy road after the first op but did the physio etc to get back to some normality. Even though I had buttock numbness I definitely knew that something was wrong again before op 2 and 3 and 4. It was just horrendous pain that got me back to the surgeon. You have never had an operation, they say if your pain has gone that the erupted disc material has been absorbed by your body which is good really. My advice would be find a physio who has experience with spinal problems as they all seem to specialise in something. My first physio did not get anywhere with me and was at a loss what to do so sent me on to an experienced spinal physio.