OMG Glenn. You should NEVER have gone to a chiropractor, not knowing what was wrong with your back! Your could have done some permanent damage..

Your MRI shows some herniations at L4-5 and L5-S1. At L4-5 the protrusion is pretty good sized!

At L5-S1, you have a disc tear of 10mm!!! Plus you have moderate spinal canal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal) and impingement of the nerve roots, and that HURTS!

I'd be careful with the stretches -- don't do ANYTHING that hurts. Therapy isn't supposed to hurt. So if it hurts, don't do it. You can still stretch, but if it hurts, back off. You may have been aggravating things. Swimming is great for the spine. Just "hanging" in the deep end with water wings is wonderful too. Stay that way for about 1/2 hour or so. I think I'd back off a bit on the weight training for awhile. You shouldn't be lifting anything right now. Not until you see a doctor who knows his stuff.

Is there any way you can get another MRI since yours in a year old? I know you're not working -- do you have insurance? An updated one would sure be good to see.

Does your pain go down into one leg or another? I suspect it probably does.

You could use a pain management doctor. Trouble is, they always want to do injections which sometimes work, but lots of times don't. Do they have pain mgt. doctors there? Acupuncture might work for you -- I really don't know, but it's worth a try.

I wish you the very best. Let us know what happens. I hope you can find some relief SOON. God bless and please take care. Hugs, Lee