Dear Sigurd

Thankyou for your very detailed response - a lot to take in there. I am seeing my GP on Monday and need to figure out what pradctical help the NHS can give - can you confirm - do I need an Wikipedia reference-linkMRI scan at this stage? Do I need an X Ray?
I think I can take what I know now to my exisiting therapist and see what they can do for me or try another physio centre.
Are you saying that undertaking the slump test repeatedly would help the condition? I will certainly google the other exercises you mention.
Would you recomend avoiding any particuar sports until I fix the problem - if indeed it is fixable at all? Would it just be a case of mitigating the effects?

Thanks again

Nick