Greetings everybody.

I'm 37 and have struggled with low back pain since the age of 14. There wasn't an accident or traumatic event ... it just got sore one day and has continued to get worse.

It's all on the Left side at what feels like the L5 S1 area and radiates into my groin and upper leg. I can't bend to the right at all and bending forward is very uncomfortable. Driving, especially right turns are tough. I can't to a left legged straight leg raise.

My medical dossier is thick. I've had several MRIs that all point out moderate degeneration at the 3 lowest levels, but no bulges or other anomaly other than a mention of a transitional vertebra. I've investigated these it sounds somewhat controversial whether or not these have a bearing on low back pain.

I get frequent flareups, and even my normal level of pain is significant. I haven't been able to do a left ham string stretch in over 20 years. Everytime I try (at the suggestion of reputable health practitioners) I flare. Can all this be caused by a few moderately degenerated discs? Could the Lumbo sacral transitional vertebra (fusing lumbar disc and sacrum on right side) be responsible for Left sided pain?

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.