I have an L4 L5 disc protrusion and an L5 S1 disc Extrusion with posterior displacement and flattening of the left S1 nerve root for the last six years I've been completely pain-free and able to train any way that I want to all I have is a bit of numbness on my left side and muscle a trophy of my left glute I have a small left bum cheek the interesting thing is when I got my MRI scan this was after a year of Me rehabbing Myself and getting pain-free I had no pain when I got the MRI scan and it still showed the structural injury if I had got that scan on my PM was at its worst I would have stopped doing everything I would have gave up my career and I would have lost my family I was not a very nice person to live with when I was in so much pain depending on the advice you're given at the time you can go down to very different paths and if you try to protect your lower back and avoid everything you're going to get weaker lose stability and that's only going to make your symptoms worse over the years you need to focus on strength