Hi. I am brand new to this site and i'm hoping to get some answers. I am 30yo, and I have had chronic sciatica for 8 yrs. The pain is not in my back, but rather, in the right buttock going down the back of my thigh, mostly to the knee, occasionally to the foot. It often switches to the left side, too. Sitting is horrible. Standing is better. Sometimes when I walk too fast, I get a shooting pain and have to lie down immediately. Mri's show degenerative disc at l-5 s-1, grade 1 spondylolisthesis, and severe spinal stenosis. Tried all the conservative treatments known to man. Tried lots of anti-inflammatories. Tried a tricyclic antidepressant. Had 1 epidural injection that didn't work. Had 5 trials of physical therapy. Also tried chiropractic care (which didn't work), and was told I have "sacroiliac syndrome" in addition to the above (my primary doc doesn't even believe this syndrome exists and laughed when I told him). Saw 4 neurosurgeons. The first 3 said if I want to improve my lifestyle, have spinal fusion. The last one I went to said "no" because after 8 yrs, the sciatica would probably persist, or be worse, or cause the above discs to collapse. I want to have a baby soon, but i'm terrified because i'm already in daily pain. This whole ordeal has taken a huge emotional toll on me, and I feel like there's nothing else to try. Has anyone out there had a similar experience?