Mick - I had exactly the same thing three years ago. First a bad back, then sciatica then numbness in left leg, foot etc. it was my own fault throwing myself into a fitness regime at the start of 2020 … even had a personal trainer who had me doing stuff for 20 year olds. Could have sued the bugger … but he didn’t have a pot …

Things got gradually worse and I struggled to walk … and the sciatica pain was awful. couldn’t sit down for more than 10 minutes. Wife made me go in to see a specialist - one of the best in the UK. This was in times of Covid mind. He took one look at my scans and said “slipped disc” you either have an operation or let it go and your pain will eventually go away. Given my age (60) he said best bet of a complete recovery is an operation. Went into hospital one week later. Pain immediately disappeared. Numbness started to go - although it’s still in the pad under my left foot three years later. Best decision I ever made. The sciatica pain was dreadful - you have my sympathy.