My "backstory": I had a fall in May, and I only thought I hurt my ankle. My ankle healed, but I started to encounter hip sciatic pain without realizing it, and pushed myself too much for work (driving over 250 miles a week) and ended up in Urgent Care because of major sciatic pain, x-rays were clear. Acute phase was the worst experience in my life, wanted to jump out of a window because I would endlessly scream and cry in pain for a week and could not sleep. Thankfully I got out of the phase and through physical therapy my sciatica eventually off.

Finally got MRI approved in July from ortho and there it was, as radiologist wrote, "due to a very large disc herniation and extrusion at L5-S1, recommend close correlation with radiographs regarding an interventional procedure." Back doctor ran some basic tests (pushed my leg at various angles) but my most worrying concern is that I have calf weakness. My right leg is very strong but my left calf is weak, I cannot get on tippy toes or calf raise despite PT trying to address it. He told me to continue PT for a month and come back if there is no progress he recommends MD.

I'm now nearly two weeks after my MRI appointment and I don't have much progress on my calf. Most of my pain has subsided, however I cannot sit down for more than few minutes, but I am back at work on a standing desk because I'm able to work remotely due to my injury.

I'm also trying to see a neurologist but I can't get an appointment for a month because they are all booked solid around me. I don't want surgery, but I also don't want to have permanent nerve damage and not be able to do a calf raise on my left leg again. My low back/left thigh pain is starting to come back in the mornings and I have to blast it with heat. I'm feeling very depressed and trying to scroll through past posts even though I know every case is difference, can I still go through conservative treatments for my herniation to naturally heal so it doesn't impinge on the calf? My herniation and extrusion is measured "7mm in AP and 14 in traverse diameter."

It's been extremely depressing because I basically had to cancel all my vacations and cease all my normal activities (lifting, skating, boating, I am a very active person) and I'm resigned to only walking for the rest of the year if I have to heal but I certainly don't want to lose my left calf but also I don't want to risk surgery in my late 30s. Should I get advice from another doctor if I can't reach a neurologist? I feel that surgeons only want to push surgery so I want other opinions to know what paths to take...