I’m not sure you have a bulging disc. How did you figure that out and at level L5? Did you get an x-ray that showed a closed disc space? Do you have pain going down one of your legs?
Yes X-ray w no space between discs. Here’s X-ray altho it’s a bit blurry
https://imgur.com/a/4PltwA5
Plain x-rays in this circumstance are a bit controversial. Your symptoms are consistent with what you are thinking but realistically an MRI is really the best to show any nerve compression and what it is secondary to.
It sounds like things are on the improve which is good and there is nothing you have mentioned that suggests that you would need surgery. However, if the symptoms persist an MRI would be idea to help guide treatment, epidurals/nerve sleeves etc are pretty straight forward procedures in the correct hands (I work on a list that does dozens of these once a fortnight).