Foot drop symptom due to pinched L5 nerve

Diagnosed with L4/L5  large paracentral disc extrusion.  After first day of injury, pain was gone.  Numbness and weakness remained.  It's been almost 5 weeks now.  The numbness got much better but the weakness remains.  Neurosurgeon said I have foot drop and recommended surgery.  I have been on acupuncture treatment since a few days after the injury.  Twice a week for three weeks and now it's once a week.

Any thoughts or similar experience?  Is surgery needed for this?

[manpt]

I'm a physical therapist. Sorry, this is a surgical condition...soon as possible! You have completely compressed the nerve going to this muscle that lifts your foot up, and regardless of the pain or lack thereof, you need immediate decompression of that nerve. If not, you could end up with permanent nerve damage and may have a foot drop forever. Wish I could offer a better solution, but sometimes surgery is necessary. Best wishes.