Thanks, everyone, especially @Magiver for answering.
To answer questions: Inna is seeing a PT for this, one assigned by her back specialist so she is covered there. This thread was for suggestions and ideas, not take-action-now recommendations.
Following up on my visit - my spine specialist says about 70% of patients who present the way I do benefit from PT. I’m in the 30%. Next step - he’s sending me to a pain specialist to evaluate potential epidural injection, or possible nerve ablation. (The MRI did show likely nerve being pinched by the disc) Your wife might be on a similar path, given the foraminal narrowing.