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If the pain is stabbing and intense, and radiates, it's consistent with nerve compression pain caused by either a bulging disk or a disk that's fully herniated. If the pain goes down the back of your legs, it's the Sciatic nerve being compressed by the L4/5 or L5/S1 disk; if the pain stops at the inside of the knee, it's the L3/4 disk nerve being compressed.

Regardless, the treatment is the same - get off your feet, and lie down. Sitting is out as it also puts pressure on the lower spine. If it lasts in its intensity for more than 3 days, you'll probably require an Epidural or Facet Injection (local or targeted steroid injections to reduce inflammation) so that the disk can retract and heal. However, be aware that for most, the shots and resulting pain are as bad or worse than the pain it's intended to deal with. In the years when I still got benefit from shots, it generally took 2 or 3 days for the pain from the injection to subside.

Muscle spasms caused by the pain of the nerve compression adds to the problem, and is the reason muscle relaxers are commonly prescribed. As the muscles / tendons contract during pain spasms, the area around the nerve becomes tighter, increasing the nerve compression and subsequently the pain. It's a vicious cycle.

As I said, pain lasting in intensity for more than 2 or 3 days needs to be checked by a doctor. The severity of the pain also can give you an indication of just how bad the problem is - if you can walk without support (cane, etc.) then it's not that bad, but still should be checked anyway. If you can walk but need support, then it's more serious and you should hve it checked immediately.

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