Advice or experiences doing push-ups with lumbar disc issues (L5-S1 hernia + L4-L5 protrusion)

Hi!

I’d love to hear from people who’ve had herniated or bulging discs and tried doing push-ups again.

I have an L5-S1 herniation with advanced degeneration and compression, plus a mild to moderate L4-L5 protrusion. My lower back is mostly stable now, no major misalignment, just a bit of lordosis straightening.

I’ve been doing the McGill Big Three consistently for a while (bird dog, side plank, and modified curl-up), plus walking and swimming. I feel much stronger and more stable lately, so I’m thinking about adding push-ups back in, maybe starting with wall or incline versions.

If anyone’s been through this, I’d love to know: • Did push-ups make things better or worse for you? • How did you progress safely? • Any cues or warning signs you learned to watch out for?

Just trying to strengthen without messing up my progress. Any input helps.