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>>...Consider asking for a physical therapy referral. Sometimes a few exercises and advice on lifting and sitting techniques are all that's necessary. ...<<

Actually, I've been undergoing PT for serveral months. I was getting a lot better after initially injuring the back last August.

Then the leg pain started occaisionally last month. The doc prescribed the MRI. This weekend the pain got severe and I can hardly walk or sit.

Thanks everyone for the advice, suggestions, and support.

Tony

You are in serious pain. No one who's suffered such pain can really understand it.
To add to what I posted above,my problem was at L-4. My pain reached a certain level and remained there, day in and day out. I couldn't walk in an upright position. The pain was horrific, and the painkillers were as bad, in their own way, as the pain. I couldn't sleep at night or walk or sit-- no position provided relief.

In my case, the choices were to live in chronic, unrelenting pain, or have to surgery. I am very fortunate that surgery was a cure-- I've had not one moment of pain from the time I came out of anesthesia until now. Life is worth living again.

I wish you the best with your situation-- and freedom from pain.

I herniated the L5 disk in 1984 while waterskiing. Like you I thought I could just go easy on it and it would go away. Most of the advise I've read is very good.

First the regular doc gave me pain pills. Three weeks later not better...Couldn't stand up long enough to get dressed in the morning. Called the doc...Left leg numb...MRI...Herniated disk...not a rupture...The muscles start tensing up from spasms in your lower back...can't move without pain.

Wife drove me to the neurosurgeon the same day...He did an epidural shot (morphine & cortisone, apparrently they give this same shot to women in labor)...gave me knockout pills and told me to stay in bed on my back with a pillow under my knees for three days, then go to Physical Therapy and learn the right stretching exersises and other things.

Two years went by before all the soreness/tenderness went away.

Chiropractors are useful now when I feel a little tight in the lower back. After a while you learn how to relax and/or "pop" your back yourself. Exersise is essential, just walking daily will help (I play golf, but still swing more controlled than before.) If surgery is medically necessary, don't delay.