Hi Alophysio,

Thanks for the reply.

To answer the questions- This "episode" began just over a month ago, I've had others in the past, perhaps two or three a year, but never as long...usually a week or so sorts me out..... Typically, if I do some stretch/rolling side to side on a solid surface, and take some Difene- it generally goes away.

I think of myself as having a "dodgy" back. I know that if I haul and drag, or lift heavy objects, I'll trigger an episode, and therefore I'm generally careful. Over the past 18 months when in trouble , I've seen the GP- who said "I was getting old!!" - I'm fit- walk, not overweight- and 51 - I' didn't put too much faith in that diagnosis.

Got the Wikipedia reference-linkMRI subsequently- and it didn't show any problem.

Tried some physio sessions / massage - but it really onlygave perhaps 4-5 hours relief, and quite honestly, I could not afford to spend €200-300 a week on these after the third one which got me to €200.

Took up swimming- and can do 12 lengths without much trouble and the massage jets in the pool really help- again though only for a few hours.

The recent episode just came on me at work- though 3-4 days previously, I had been working in the garden- I did not feel I twisted, lifted or hurt myself, and came in, showered and relaxed with no problem.

"if someone could just...."....I think let me wear a weighlifters thick leather belt all the time...to keep my back straight and hold me upright,.....I've tried the lightweight ones in the garden etc- but I always feel less inclined to depend on them as I feel it gives artificial strength to the back and without them I might be worse off.....I typically describle what happens as me losing my lower back strength...as if you melted it...I know this affects my posture- my stomach then goes loose, and the cycle begins again..

The pain can shift from side to side, but is mostly on my right side..centralised on my upper buttock, just near my lower spine. then the legs stuff happens.

This episode is going on too long- I can live with the "doddgy" back and 4-5 days of discomfort- but this is different.

thanks again for the consideration

Selym