“I had the disc herniation for about 11 months from weightlifting before deciding to go through with surgery”. This worries me somewhat as chronic compression of a nerve root can have long term effects-something called chronic radiculopathy.
“since week 3 I have had extreme and constant achey pains in my entire left leg. It seems like they are barely subsiding if at all”. The four possibilities are a seroma (a collection of fluid compressing the root), a recurrent herniation (or incomplete extirpation), an infection (rare but possible if you fell poorly) and chronic radiculopathy.
If labs are normal (no infection) you could try an oral steroid. If these symptoms continue, a new MRI would be the next step.
Dr. Corenman