I'll try to be brief. I started suffering with sciatica shortly after the birth of my oldest child 31 years ago. I went years without ever discussing it with the doctors until I couldn't take it anymore. I had my first MRI ten or twelve years ago, but there was nothing in my back. I had no back pain so that was no surprise. Four years ago, I had another MRI, and nothing. That time I was disappointed because I want so badly to know why, but after reading some of these nightmare stories about the back, I'm relieved.I had an EMG at that time, and it showed I have significant nerve damage in my bad leg. Also, I have no plantar reflex, but my knee reflex test almost brought me off the exam table. My left leg is shorter than my right, and I have less muscle mass. I suppose that could be from putting very little weight on my bad leg. I wouldn't know because the doctor has never bothered looking at it, and he totally discounted the bad leg being shorter. I have been on 3,000 mg of gabapentin and 100 mg of Nortriptyline a day, and that's great for relaxing me enough to sleep at night, but the pain is still excruciating and unrelenting. The last time I went to the doctor I was at wits end, and didn't even try to be the good little girl who doesn't complain. I have reached my limit. I truly can't take it anymore. Also, in the last couple of months my back has started hurting, which, as I said earlier is a new symptom. On top of it, the doctor thinks I have a torn rotator cuff. That happened after one of my many falls because I always catch my bad leg on rugs, vacuum clean cords, you name it because I practically drag it.I had another MRI the other day, but I haven't heard from the doctor. I already know he's going to say it's nothing, here's some more gabapentin. Please tell me why I feel my doctor doesn't get it. I'm not a complainer or a hypochondriac. I am most definitely not a drug seeker. Pain pills don't even help. After my fouth c-section, I remember commenting to my husband that I couldn't even tell I had just had a baby at the age of 43, but I sure as hell knew I had sciatic pain. And that child God blessed us with twelve years ago deserves more than what I am giving him. If anyone has any insight into what the root cause of this is, please, please tell me before I go stark raving mad.