Anyone had a lower back injury that feels like a trapped nerve? How long to recover?

[Pileonsally]

I've done myself an injury lifting too heavy weights in the gym.
Feels like a trapped nerve and my leg goes numb a lot.
Seeing a physio but just isn't getting any better.

Am on week 5 now...anyone had similar? How long did it take to recover?

Sounds like sciatica? An anti inflammatory will sort it out. Dicoflenac worked miracles on my sciatic nerve

Is diclofenac over the counter? Ibuprofen not touching it?

Have you had it properly assessed? An MRI scan?

I would get referrals as soon as you can. DD2 had this at 17 after a stint in an understaffed care home and it turned out to be 2 herniated discs. If you get numbness in your genital area you should go to A&E as it can be very serious
www.nhs.uk/conditions/lumbar-decompression-surgery/why-its-done/

Physio said its not sciatica..he thinks its inflamed spine?? And occasionally pressing on nerve.
Its no better after 5 wks tho

Try to see an osteo. I’ve had terrible back issues since my early 20s due to dodgy vertebra. Popped and torn more discs than I can remember and tried allsorts. Oysteo really works for me.

Check out piriformis syndrome.

i had pain and sciatica caused by inflammation in the facet joint at L5, physio sorted it and lots of exercises. Took about 4 weeks with effective treatment to sort

I would go to your doctor

Inflamed spine ? Never heard the like! I am 61 and have had back issues all my life. First operation at 15 to sort a shattered disc. See an osteopath who will hopefully sort you out

That doesn't sound like sciatica, as its no better after 5 weeks of physio, see your GP asap and ask for an MRI.

I did something horrible to my back once (hormonal plus long time stuck in traffic). Was in agony and despairing of it ever leaving then I went to a chiropractor who sorted it out pretty much on the spot. Was amazing.

Spinal team told me that MRI spine is only indicated for cauda equina symptoms - numbness to your bottom, loss of bowel control and incontinence of urine. I had pins and needles to my rt foot plus numbness due to a suspected disc protusion but symptoms weren't red flag so no scan sadly. Physio did give me loads of exercises to do which have helped but there are loads of NHS ones on Youtube too. May be see your gp first ?