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Many surgeons had long feared that waiting would cause severe harm, but those fears were proved unfounded

Am at present recovering from 2nd surgery for 2nd herniated disk.
Took the wait and see approach to the first one 2 years ago - the actual injury was 2 years, 8 months ago.
The sciatica did improve over time, but was still present - a dull ache. A routine physical exam noted severe atrophy in my right calf, loss of reflex in the right foot.
I hadn't noticed it over time, and don't wear shorts often, but standing in front of a mirror the difference in size between my right and left calfs was noticable at this point.
Went for a "nervation" test where they inject an electrical charge at one end of the nerve trunk and detect the time it takes to reach a receiver attached to the other end. A certain time is "normal", as was my left leg. The right was much slower and it was this lack of nervation that was causing the atrophy in the right leg.
Surgery ensued, and physical therapy in time, but that right leg has never come back.

Now, almost three years later I blew out another disc - it's congenital they tell me - and after trying oral steroids and Naproxyn (industrial strength Ibuprophen) we decided to cut again. It was the right leg sciatic nerve that was affected again, and I don't have any reserves.

So in my case, I do not follow the study... and I do not recommend ANYONE with sciatic pain to try and tough it out like I did the first time. Consult with a neurosurgeon and get a nervation test.
The quote above, I believe, is way wrong!

Great article - thanks for the post

I'm proof of their assertions. I had three damaged disks in my lower back. After different doctors telling me that I should consider surgery or a steroid epidural, a great neurologist told me to just do Physical Therapy. It hurt and took three months (with continuing exercises), but all is fine now (without surgery or pain treatments).

after carrying a 10 pound kiddo, i ruptured a disc in my lower
back. i tried, muscle relaxers, chiropractors and tons of pain
killers. when the pain was unbearable, pat took me to e.r. and
i was referred to a neurologist. within one week the pressure
on my spinal cord was so bad i had lost all feeling in my left
leg. i had laser surgery immediately. no stitches, no blood
transfusions and i was only home for a 4 week recovery period.
if i had not had the surgery i would not be walking now, i
would be disabled.