I have stong backpain and sciatica - sometimes so severe I just want to crawl under a rock. I have been under care at UNM, and have had two recent MRI s. Both show arthritic development in L4/L5 and the latest one showed a cyst on the left side of L4. I was told I have moderate stenosis, a slightly out of alignment vertebra and an occasional bulging disc, and was offered surgery. When I went in for the pre-op appointment with the neurosurgeon, I told him the sciatic pain had moved into both legs. That s when he wanted a new MRI, which I completed. When I went back, he said he decided surgery might not help be be better off than pain management and recommended an epidural, which I had 10 days ago under X-Ray. It has not helped the pain at all. The only thing that has helped was regular visits to a DO at UNM for trigger point injections in my gluteal region, but the relief only lasted 2-3 weeks. I just don t know where to turn now? The back pain has been going on three years, and the sciatic pain about 14 months - it s getting progressively worse. I am 66 years old, exercise all the time - 2-3 hours a day, including walking, yoga, pilates. I weigh 110 lbs. Please help.