I've had sciatica for twenty years. It started when I could no longer do sit-ups without hip pain. Initially I thought that I had a hip problem. An MRI twenty years ago showed normal results for my hip and lower back.

Recently, the frequency of the sciatica increased, so I had another MRI done. The result showed "Equivocal minimal bulging of the L4-5 disk." This explains the sciatica, but doesn't tell me much about long-term possibilities. Obviously I want to avoid further complications, such as a rupture of this disk.

Has anyone ever seen any statistics about the percent of people who have bulging who go on to rupture their disk?

In the past I haven't tried to limit my activity. If something caused the sciatica, I stopped doing it, but if I needed to lift or carry something, I did it without hesitation. Should I be limiting the weight I lift to 20 or 25 lb, for example? Are there restrictions that I should be placing on myself now to prevent further problems in the future?