I have been having severe pain, off and on, for the past several years in the L4 region of my spine. I have been doing my own research on this recently due to a recent incident which had me stuck in bed, unable to work for a week. From looking at pictures, the pain seems to be coming from a disk located either above or below L4. Recent X-Rays I've had taken in the ER show nothing, and an MRI I had a few years ago also showed nothing.

What is happening is, occasionally, for no apparent reason (no injury, heavy lifting, or overworking) I'll stretch something or move the wrong way and immediately I start having EXTREME pain to the point I'll collapse and be totally unable to move (not paralysis, the pain is just unbearable). One time I had this happen to me in my kitchen and it took me two hours to crawl inch by inch into the living room and figure out how to get the phone off of my couch. Its totally unbearable.

I've never called 911 before and I would not unless I'm dieing, but it can take me a very long time and excruciating pain to make my journey to the closest emergency room where they usually give me 2 percocets, a shot of Torodol in the hip, and some muscle relaxers and send me on my way. By the time the percocets wear off I'm in extreme pain again and unable to move around for days. Even trying to make it to the bathroom is very scary and painful. I'm always afraid I might move my body wrong and make matters worse. I have a drug history and have been in recovery for a year and a half. I'm doing very well so its very scary and also tempting for me to mess around with pain killers. I prefer to not have them anywhere near me but nothing else even touches my pain.

I just got back on Medical through my work. I'm not very good at explaining what's going on with me verbally and do not see DRs on a regular basis, but I really need some help or suggestions on what I need to do. I want to get to the root of this problem and fix it if possible. The pain is either above or below my L4. Nowhere else. No numbness anywhere. Just excruciating pain in that one spot. It seems to work itself out after about a week or so. Any help, information, or suggestions would be appreciated tremendously. Thanks.