It is really great that you are so supportive of your dad. I know how hard it is to watch a loved one go through this and to feel helpless. Most back problems do resolve themselves within the first 6 months. However there are those of us that end up with long term chronic pain. There are lots of options for your dad to find some relief. Has he thought about getting a second opinion? I know that I saw quite a few different docs in order to get a diagnosis and some help with my pain. Hopefully your dad is just experiencing some short term acute pain and will be able to find relief soon. The fact that your dad is in such good physical shape will probably help him too. Please feel free to come here when you have questions or need support. I hope that your dad feels better soon.

I do understand the pain your father is suffering. I too had a pinched nerve in my right thigh. The burning stabbing pain was agony. I say WAS because after a few weeks it cleared up on it's own.
I was already on pain medication but it did very little for the burning/stabbing pain. When I lay down...I would jump(well as fast as I could) up screaming. It was like someone was pouring scalding water on my thigh! I soon learned if I elevated my leg the burning pain stopped. I still sleep with both legs elevated although the burning/stabbing is no longer. It only lasted a few weeks.....Thank goodness.
Lets hope your father is as lucky as I was with his pain and it clears up on it's own.
Best of luck to hem......
Cheers
Patsy W

If this came on suddenly, it very well may be a lumbar disc that has herniated. Is he having pain running down the back of his leg, or pain in the hamstring area?

Has he tried icing the lower lumbar area///fifteen minutes each hour as often as he can, along with taking some sort of NSAIDS? Usually the first thing to try is to get any inflammation down.

In addition to the forum, this site has many good articles written by spinal specialists. I am enclosing links to a couple possibilities:

http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/degenerative-disc-disease/what-de...

http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/herniated-disc/whats-a-herniated-...

If he has pain running down his leg, take a look at this:

http://www.spine-health.com/wellness/exercise/exercise-sciatica-a-hernia...

Immobilizing back pain is always very scary when it first happens. However, the majority of patients recover without needing further treatment. If the pain is still really bad after six weeks' time, have your father make an appointment with a spinal specialist, or if insurances prevents that, go to your family doctor and ask for a MRI scan to determine what is wrong. Unfortunately back problems can be VERY slow to heal, so don't panic if he doesn't show progress right away.

You are sweet to be looking out for your dad and navigating the online resources for him.

Good luck.
Gwennie