HI Early Bird, Sounds like you have a pinched nerve, I went through that in 1993, the worst pain i remember was after sitting for a bit it took about 10 mins to stand up straight again had to straiten up in stages. I eventually landed up having a fusion in my lower back S1 and S2, not something I would recommend but at the time there was no alternative. Medicine has advanced since then I am sure so explore your alternatives. If it is correctly diagnosed as a pinched nerve and nothing else works and you have to go under the knife,pick your surgeon carefully heard some horror stories about ops gone wrong. Mine was a success the biggest thing is the recovery after the op. I was at home for six months was not allowed to sit for three and then had to wear a ridiculous back brace for the next three. (The boredom was excrutiating thank God for friends and playstation ) Anyway the most important thing is to follow the rehabilitation program the problems I have heard of is when people try to get back to work to soon or start moving around to much causing damage again. If you do go for the op please, please do what they say after. Today I am perfectly fine I have to watch that I dont get lazy and my back only gives me problems when I dont exercise my core. For myself chiropractors have their uses but be weary of them not one has ever helped me in a lifetime of back problems.
