L4/L5 here, I had a thread on it somewhere. Basically, proper pain for 9 months, thousands spent on experimental treatment involving a rack, but ended up with the surgery I was trying to avoid. During my pain found cycling pain free, leg balance went to about 65-35 and I wondered if I would ever recover. Not too long after surgery I was back to pretty much 50-50. I still get warning nerve pains in my left leg if I do silly things or don’t cycle enough. I did my first ever 10k run tonight and so far both calves hurt equally 
I surprised myself with how much pain I was willing to endure over the 9 months until surgery. I twisted my body into a very unnatural position and used to come home from work in tears and lie on the floor all evening. When I woke up from surgery pain free, I realised in how much pain I had actually been in. My advice, you don’t have to live with the pain, don’t try and be a hero and do what the physio’s, sports therapists, chiro’s and consultants say. My GP was a disgrace, but when I saw people who knew their stuff things got moving along. I avoided surgery for too long, until the consultant said that I absolutely had to have it done. He was right.
I surprised myself with how much pain I was willing to endure over the 9 months until surgery. I twisted my body into a very unnatural position and used to come home from work in tears and lie on the floor all evening. When I woke up from surgery pain free, I realised in how much pain I had actually been in. My advice, you don’t have to live with the pain, don’t try and be a hero and do what the physio’s, sports therapists, chiro’s and consultants say. My GP was a disgrace, but when I saw people who knew their stuff things got moving along. I avoided surgery for too long, until the consultant said that I absolutely had to have it done. He was right.
