If you have a bulging disc, then you have a chance for sciatica.  Talk to
you back doc about treatment options.  There are many new things that are
happening in that area so putting off surgery for as long as possible is a
good idea.

r

I would go get a MRI and go from there.  When you get the MRI, get a copy
of the Radiologists report.  It will most likely be very enlightening.  
Let us know when you get that done.

r

I just don't know what to do but I am going crazy.

I have had on and off back-pain since 1994.  I am 36 years old and
have no idea what may have caused the onset in the first place.  There
are occasions when my entire lower back will seize up and at that
point, it takes me 3 or 4 minutes to roll over in bed!  This complete
sieze-up has occurred about 4 times since 2000 and each time, after
the initial onset, the recovery is a couple of weeks where I can
gradually, get up more easily, them move around more easily, etc but I
am typically laid up for 4 straight days when it first comes on.

Right now, I am in pain when I sit upright, or when I stand from a
sitting position.  Once I get up and slowly stretch my lower back by
leaning arching my back a little bit, I am fine (as long as I don't
bend over).

A couple of years ago, I went to an osteopath and on my first visit, I
was a new man!  This lasted for about a year or so where I had almost
no indication of pain at all doing anything including bending over,
lifting, etc.  Then my situation came back and the last time I went to
see him in Sept 2003, he was not able to perform the same magic.  He
had said that my S1 joint was frozen or something like that but he
wasn't able to fix it the last time I went.

Just a couple of days ago, I went to an orthopedic doctor and he said
that my muscles are weak and that is what is causing all of my
problems.  I have tried to exercise during times of good back and
quite often, the execises would aggravate my situation so I would no
longer have a good back so of course, I would discontinue them.

I just don't know what to believe because if my problem was caused by
weak muscles, why is it that on my initial visit to the osteopath, I
was completely cured for a long while???  I just want to have a normal
back.  I mean, I can't do anything anymore.  I can't swing a golf
club, run around (without being very aware of my movements)...  I am
36 and I have a lot more living to do and I would like to have a
decent back!  I would even contemplate surgery on a bulging disk (that
I do have according to an MRI) but it seems that if there is no
sciatica, there is no disk problem (right? comments please...).

Anyway, does anyone out there have a similar story or want to throw
some advice my way?

Thanks
Bob