Thank Bikelet you for your advice – by today; it is about one month and half (about 6 ‎weeks) from my last back pain episode and disability.(also 6 weeks of my sick leave)‎

From the pain point of view , I can say that after medications and physical therapy – I ‎am much much better – pain is mild and tolerable such that I do not need to take ‎strong medications (sometimes one celebrex tablet in a week span).‎

I am on my diabetes medications – and there is a strong request from my doctors to ‎take a medication called Alpha Lipoic Acid (300 mg / day) – although I do not follow ‎their advice.‎

Actually it is a food supplement as a powerful antioxidant – and they say to me that as ‎I am diabetic then this medication is a must – especially if I have problems with the ‎nerves (I do not mind to take that medication – it has very excellent effect – but it ‎needs a good or healthy stomach : which I do not have )‎

From the functional point of view (if I can say something like that) - I am suffering ‎from mild numbness in my left foot – it might be from the nerve compression, might ‎be from diabetes, might be from both.‎

I can walk now (for about twenty minutes) – drive my car (for about half an hour) ‎without complains – it is only hard to stand still for more than five minutes.‎

I can sit to my computer chair for about three to four hours/day – but of course not ‎continuous.‎

Unfortunately till now – I do not have a clear and fixed or exercise program – as the ‎books I ordered from Amazon – did not arrive yet !!! – so I picked some exercises ‎from the net from ChiroGeek website (Dr. Gerald website) – which is called dynamic ‎lumbar stabilization (level one exercises) – I think this site is an excellent one.‎
I will place an order for the book you mentioned Bikelet – but I expect one month to ‎receive it !!!‎

I do hope that some body can kindly reply to some of my questions which is :‎

If that numbness in my foot is due to the nerve compression – is it possible that it will ‎heal by physical therapy and exercises ?‎

I am still on my sick leave (my initial physical therapy program still have about two ‎weeks to finish ) and eager to return to my job (please remember it is unpaid sick ‎leave) – but I am quite afraid that a relapse might occur – it was a really horrible ‎experience to me – so does any body have suggestions to how long should I stick to ‎sick leave or just ignore my fears and go back to work ? ‎

Please remember that my work is very tense and usually I stick to my computer chair ‎for a bout 10 or 11 working hours/ day – 5 days/ week and by working hours here – I mean ‎really performing hours not attendance hours.‎

Finally, thank you all for your kind help.‎

Best Regards

Ashraf