I'm a 39 year old male in generally good shape. I have lived with consistant pain for the roughly the last 5 years. I don't think the root of the problem has ever been correctly identified, the pursuit of which has left me exhausted, frustrated, bitter and broke. I've recently had a weird result that I would like some advice on.

I don't have time today to go into the full history...the multiple diagnosis' and the treatments. I will say though that some think it's a disk degeneration and some think it's muscular. The evidence to support either is spotty. I've had mri's, xrays, physical therapy, spinal epidurals, electrical tests...all of which have had no positive result.

I find that a strong exercise regiment improves my baseline considerably. I'm not 100% sure which exercises/machines are helping though. I feel the effected area in the leg curls and the hip ab/ad and I think those are the ones that help the most.

The pain starts in my lower left back...when I sit it feels like I'm sitting on a foreign object on my left side. It wraps around and down my hip. There is also pain in the outside of my calf directly under my knee that goes midway down my calf.

When I walk it feels better but then, if the pain is worse. The longer the walk the greater the price. I have pronation in my left foot...I'll find myself almost stepping outer side of my foot. My ankle has been xrayed and is fine and strong, and my knee is strong as well.

I've tried store purchased otc orthopedics recently and it virtually eliminated the pain from my back, butt and hip. However, it makes the pain migate to my calf, especially in the side and back, and the front of my ankle and top of my foot. The bottom half of my leg is basically on fire.

Does anyone have any experience with orthopedics migrating pain like this and what does it mean? The doctors look at me like I'm speaking greek.

Any "specific" advice regarding the orthopedic issue would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Jim