Hi all,
I am a 23 year old girl and thought I'd come on here to share my expereince and hear off others in my situation.

In September 2011, I was off work with a waterworks infection for 2 days and returned back to work with lower back pain, which I thought was down to the waterworks infection. I struggled through work with this burning pain in my lower back centrally and to the right side for 3 days, and through the weekend and it got worse. I went to the GP the monday morning and was told it was probably 'mechanical back pain', take some painkillers and go home.

I went to work the next day and after the drive in I was in agony and could barely walk. I work in a hospital as a junior doctor, and barely made it to my ward before bursting out into tears in pain. A colleage found me, and I got checked over by one of the rheumatology consultants. I was sent home and told to come back in when the pain settled. The pain continued, made worse by walking/standing still for long period of time.I had an MRI scan one month later showing a mild prolapse at level L5/S1. I continued taking indometacin, the only painkiller which helped as it made me quite drowsy and helped me sleep at night when my pain was at its worst.

I had twice weekly physio sessions, using ultrasound and doing core exercises which slowly helped improve things. I returned back to work too early, so had to arrange a phased return where I was supposed to work half days to build my back up to the full time job. Being on my feet all day, and bending over to do many tasks was aggravating my back, and some days I was in too much pain to go in. the days I was supposed to only be in half a day didnt really work out; my job never really lends itself to be able to finish on time.

I gradually got back to normal function by the end of November. I then caught a bug in work off my ward, so was off for a day. Then I got up the next day to be in excruciating pain again with my back, worse than before and burning more than ever.

I managed to get back into work towards the end of the week; I started a new rotation in work and was keen to make a good impression so I struggled on and didnt mention my back thinking it was a blip and I would get better. I was fighting everyday to make it in to work and to be able to stand up. Any chance to lean on something, or to sit I took it but these moments where rare. My back was affecting my ability to my job and was getting worse daily. Last Monday, I was sent home from work as my back gave up and so did I. I was so tired of fighting to be in work when inside I was crumbling.

I have been off work since and the pain is getting worse. My right foot wont stop tingling and I am getting shooting pains down my right leg. All I can do to keep comfy is switch sitting/lying positions.
I am now taking amitriptyline which doesnt do anything except make me sleep. I am having another MRI scan this week. I just want to get better as being at home drives me mad. Plus the small matter of getting married in 8 weeks...I want to walk down the aisle and stand tall to say my vows.

Any magic cures anyone knows of?
Physio I am still doing, tried acupuncture, on painkillers, joined local swimming pool and do gentle walking in the pool then sit in the sauna, have a back support to wear if I have to stand, and have bought a TENS machine which works to distract from the pain, but not making it go away.

I am going mad at home! Someone please help!
Thanks