I had the same problem. went to Dr. complaining for 6 mths. Then she did MRI and seen I needed surgery. I went to a Nuerosurgeon and I had extruded disc material broken off and lying on the nerve causing the pain. Sometimes your body will reabsorb the material so he made me wait for 4 wks. Pain still there and I had lower lumber discestomy-herniated disc, another bulging disc. I had the surgery and was good for a few mths then it started again. I am having MRI NOv 20th to see if another one has -rayherniated. also have DDD, spurs. Ice is better per nuerosurgeon. The lidocaine patches help while I work. I take somas. 4 a day. Valium at night. I have oxycodone but it makes me sick even with phenagren. Seems when one complains of back pain they wait till the last minute to do MRI. I just told my dr. something had to give . Therefore we did surgery. As of this time I am worse off than before. Insist they do MRI on you. That will tell the true story. Looks as though I am going to have surgery again in the next few mths. An xray dont show much. I had been xrayed 4 times and they saw nothing. So tell them to do MRI. Remember ice is better than heat. I wish you luck.
I have the same pain. The burning and shooting pain is horrible. I also have neck problems. Did you get an MRI? It could be helpful to find out exactly what is going on. I am scheduled for one also.
I agree, the muscle relaxants don't really help. Try ice and heat. Alternate the two. Also I take 3 Advil in the morning, then 3 at night.