I still have residual nerve pain at a 2-3 level in my lower leg but it is very tolerable. My bigger issue than the actual lower back is that because I had to wait 8 weeks for my surgery due to COVID, my right leg muscles atrophied and 9 months later I am still exercising like crazy to build the muscles back. I hurt like crazy after exercising and am eating Advil (which is not good long term) like candy to control the pain.