Dear Dr Corenman
Many thanks for the very quick response.
Sorry I missed if some key information i think!
Yes the pain is on the side and level of the previous herniation. It is mainly localised about 2cm left of my scar, but it can spread if it gets bad, at the same level.
I had an MRI at 4 weeks when I was going well, then another at 10 weeks at which point the back pain had started. My surgeon said several times that she could see no difference in the disc height or shape between the 2 scans. My new doctor could not see any changes either. The S1 nerve root was looking swollen on both. There is apparently enough space in the foramen for the nerve all the same.
I bought the nerve pain diagnosis as it was consistent with the very fast onset of the pain after my over-exercise day. As part of the diagnosis process the doctor did some stretching/pulling of my leg and caused pain in the leg first, then the back started burning.
On the upside, my leg weakness is still much better than pre-op. I can tip toe for a bit and so on.
I will continue to build up my physio exercises. I am sneaking up by maybe 10-15% each week which I seem to be getting away with.