I've had lower back pain for 2 months and calf pain for 6 months my knee MRI was normal but lumbar spine MRI showed mild to moderate L5 S1 disc bulge and mild L4 L5 bulge with pain radiating down my left leg. I feel numbness in my left leg's second toe. Do I really need steroid injections or can exercises help without surgery?

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

Dr Kamran Mohammed

General Practitioner

MBBS
FIDM
5+ Yrs

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With a mild to moderate L5-S1 disc bulge and mild L4-L5 bulge causing lower back pain and radiating down the left leg, including numbness in the second toe, you should explore conservative treatments like physical therapy and potentially a steroid injection before considering surgery. These non-surgical options can help manage pain and improve function

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Answered 14/08/2025

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