Hello

I am a 33yr old male of average height/weight and for the past 2 years have had recurring back and right buttock pain which usually subsided on it's own within a week to 2 weeks but my last episode has lasted 2 months now and is different then the rest in that for the first month and a half the pain was only
in my lower back and right buttock but about 2 weeks ago the pain seemed to lessen in my back and moved from my buttock down to the bend of my leg which in the past week has again moved from the bend of my knee down to my right calf and I do have some slight numbness in my right foot but for the most part it does not really bother me.

Anyway about a month ago I left my job because of the pain and a week ago I had my first MRI which showed I had a herniated disc on L5/S1 and was told I should go see a neuro but after shelling out over $2000.00 on the MRI (I don't have insurance) I cannot afford to go to the neuro so I found this forum while search the net for some advise and so here are my questions.


1.) Is the pain moving down from my buttock to my knee area and finally to my calf a normal thing ?

2.) If so does that mean it's getting worse or better ?

(I must say I can tolerate the pain in my leg better then I could when it was in my buttocks and I only take tylenol PM at nite to help me sleep and I don't take anything during the day on most days but I have been taking it easy for the past month or so)

3.) I would really like to go back to work but I am concerned because my job entails that I sit at a desk and my shifts are 10 hours long. I can get up and walk around every hour or so and I have the normal 30 min lunch break so I guess my question here is what can I do to during my off hours and during my breaks to keep my condition from getting worse or is it to soon to consider going back to work ?


Finally I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that does take the time to read this message and offers me some advise I do appreciate it tremendously.

Cheers,
Mike