L4-L5 central stenosis with leg pain

For three years I've experienced severe pain that begins in my extreme lower back.  I went four wheeling and did not lift up during the jumps so I essentially crushed my discs in L4-L5 and L5-S1 causing mild central canal stenosis.  Also, I have 2 schmorals nodes in the upper lumbar region.  The disc between L4-L5 also is quite degenerated and the ortho does not see bone growth.  While I have a "terribly shaped spine" as noted by my orthopedic; we still have NO answers as to why the pain will not simply go away.  I've been out of work for 3 years due to the constant pain.  If I sit for more than 10 minutes, I experience tremendous pressure and scream out loud pain in the middle of my lower back.  It feels like it is going to explode and then severe pain shoots out the sides to my hips.  So, I sit in a recliner instead but I haven't found any employers that are fond of recliners!  Also, I tried to work somewhere I could stand but I found out that I cannot stand longer than 15 minutes without the pain radiating down my legs causing me to drag my legs.  

I've gone to the neurologist and I do not have any nerve damage. Again, whew but now everyone is stumped.

I'm down about 30 weeks out of the year with this debilitating pain.  I require assistance during the "down times" usually having to fly my mom out to help me with the simplest of tasks like holding a glass of water.  It's embarrassing since I'm only 34.  The pain is so severe when I try to hold anything during the down times that I will drop anything that weighs even a pound because of the extreme pain in the lower back.  During these times I also cannot walk unassisted.  My legs drag and I move about the pace of a 90 year old.  

I take percocet only the worst of days because I have a neighbor who is addicted to percocet and it is an ugly sight.  So, I take maybe a couple per month, again only when I absolutely cannot handle it anymore.

I am back in physical therapy even though directly before this down period (which has lasted 12 weeks this time) I was biking 10 miles a day and doing 30 push ups and doing ab work - not core since I didn't realize they weren't the same thing.  So, now I am in the process of building up my core.  However even when I do another rep I go back down for another week.  This last week my husband was massaging my back and legs and when he went down my left leg it completely locked up and went entirely stiff on the back side.  Almost like the tendon hardened.  It hasn't let loose in 4 days..I'm trying to keep up my stretches though because I don't like being down and I realize that strength and loose muscles is the key although I've lost about 80% of the motion in my left leg.

But what else can I do?  What is wrong?  Why do they tell me that I am inoperable (which is great) but they cannot tell why the pain exists?  What are we all missing?  I have copies of the MRI.  We just want to go in the right direction.  I'd like to get out of the house again for 8 hours a day for a career - I lost an incredible job that I LOVED dearly and it also paid quite well.  

What about an incredible back brace? Do these work AT ALL?  I have a few lumbar braces but these are a joke and offer zero support.  Help!!!

[MisterTimC]

A rigid TLSO (hips to armpits) brace might be worth a try; it would provide plenty of support and it might get you out of the house and back to work. It works for me when the pain is real bad. Your ortho doc would need to give you a prescription for it.