Footdrop for 4 weeks not sure whether I should try an operation or conservative treatments

Hi There, I hope you don’t mind me posting here but I have some foot drop after a herniated disc and have been given 2 steroid injections ‘claudal’ and ‘formeral’ (not sure I have spelt correctly).

Anyway I have had footdrop (partial) for 4 weeks and the surgeon suggests that a back opp to relieve the pressure may not fix the problem and as there are risks involved with any back operation so he has suggested to try the injections and physio therapy to see if things improve.

The reasoning is that I do have 3/5 dorsiflexion and have seen a ‘little’ improvement but not much since the accute injury occurred (weight lifting)

The Surgeon I am seeing believes we have a 3 month window to either leave it and hope with physios things improve further over time OR do a small operation to see if that helps.

However I have read on the internet that no time should be wasted ?…… what would be your opinion?

I should just state that I have no pain (just tingling around my toes often) and can walk (almost normally) ……. However I am extremely active and would like to continue to play Squash, Tennis and Run which unless things improve further won’t be possible.

Discussion with Surgeon he tells me an op holds no guarantees and there are always small risks …….he is hopeful I could recover further without surgery because I have reasonable dorsiflexion but very weak and have made some improvements (albeit small) since the footdrop occurred.

I am I two minds to push for an Op or continue with physio and wait and see ….. I am committed to working hard at physio.

Any advice please?

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