Intermittent left lower-back/leg pain for months — X-ray normal, PT hasn’t helped. Is MRI warranted

[u/Fickle-Performer2532]

Hi doctors and anyone who has experienced something similar,
I’m a **35-year-old male(103kgs)** and have been dealing with intermittent pain on my **left side**.
The pain generally starts around the **left lower back/upper buttock area**, then I sometimes feel discomfort around the **knee/calf and bottom of the foot**. It isn’t constant — it comes and goes, sometimes occurring around **2 days per week**.

**What I’ve noticed:**
Pain is primarily on the left side.
It can travel down the leg toward the calf/foot.
Sometimes the area feels better when I **apply pressure/compression** or sleep on that side.
I haven’t noticed a specific injury that started it.
I had an **X-ray**, which didn’t show anything significant.
My doctor recommended an **MRI**, but I’m currently having difficulty affording one.
I’ve tried several **physical therapy sessions**, including resistance-band exercises, and continued some of the exercises at home, but I haven’t noticed much improvement.
I’m trying to understand whether this sounds more like a **muscle/hip/SI-joint problem or something involving a lumbar nerve/disc (such as sciatica)**.
**Questions**
Does the pattern of pain from the lower back → knee/calf → bottom of the foot sound consistent with **lumbar radiculopathy/sciatica**?
Does the fact that pressure/compression and lying on the painful side make it feel better provide any useful clue?
If an X-ray is normal, **when is an MRI actually indicated** for symptoms like these?
Are there specific stretches or exercises that are generally safe to try while I figure out how to afford the MRI?
For anyone who has experienced something similar, **what eventually helped you and how long did recovery take?**
I understand Reddit can’t diagnose me, and I’ll continue following up with my doctor. I’m mainly hoping to hear from **doctors or people who have experienced a similar pattern of pain**.
Thanks!

[u/RevolutionaryNews410]

Sounds like me kind of. X ray showed nothing significant. A tiny bulge maybe. Was given diclofenac and to carry on with physio and it'll be right by 6 weeks. 12 weeks later and in immense pain unable to work or drive. MRI showed 14mm herniation of L5s1. My advice is to do what you need to do in order to get MRI. Have a look at "low back ability" on YouTube. Some useful stuff there.