to think there's no point going to the doctor's with this?

[mmmgoats]

Had lower back pain for about a month and a half.
It's not consistent. It doesn't hurt when I sit or lie down, or when I'm walking about, it's mainly a kind of stiff feeling when I straighten up after sitting down.
I also have an occasional nerve like sciatic type pain down my left leg [lower part occasionally].

Sometimes it feels like it's in my hips, but no abdominal pain or anything like that. Accupuncture helps, Ibuprofen gel gets rid completely for a few hours and Rock tape makes a big difference. It's still lingering.

When I went to the doctor's a few years back for a different type of back ache they just told me to take paracetamol and come back in six weeks if I still had it [despite having it for two months before I went].

Am I right in thinking I should wait it out for a few more weeks and see if these things I mentioned get rid of it completely? DH thinks I should go to the doctors but I feel like it will be a total waste of time and they'll just fob me off with sciatica and treat me like an over anxious woman [I get this a lot now that my doctor has been changed over].

I'm being ridiculous aren't I?

In my experience gps don't understand back/pelvic pain much at all. Make an appointment to see an Osteopath - ask for recommendations from friends on FB or whatever. Honestly, seeing one changed my life! Went to A and E by ambulance with locked facet joint - could not weight bear at all; hospital pumped me with drugs so l could stumble out (passed out in reception due to so much medication).... Shuffled into Osteopath (recommended by paramedic!) and walked out! Amazing! Good luck. Listen to your body - if something is off there is a reason for it.

I had similar. I eventually went to the doctor and they said they could prescribe painkillers but this would be treating symptoms not the cause. And refer me to physio but would be months on NHS.

I found regular yoga and osteopath appointments help (only go to the osteopath every few months now). Ask for osteopath recommendations locally as they seem to vary a lot. A good one will aim to get you well enough that you don't need regular treatments (not tell you you've got to go back weekly etc) and give you lots of exercises to do at home to help you

I agree with Upstart Crow, don't do exercises 'prescribed' by some random on the internet. See a gp to get a basic examination to rule out any worrying symptoms, quick discussion about which meds are best for your symptoms, and the number so that you can self refer for physio. I know it varies from area to area but they will generally email you some exercises to do initially after getting an overview of your symptoms/movement issues. Then you will either have shown enough improvement not to need them, or you will need to see someone, at which point you can phone and get an appt. I was given a choice of different physiotherapists/times available in my area and it was a quick turnaround from initial gp appt to seeing a physio, but then it turned out I had a slipped disc. My physio actually discharged me and told me to go to a&e as my symptoms at 2nd appt with her suggested that I needed an urgent MRI. Ignore all the cynical posters above. See your gp. You are probably fine and just need to do the right exercises to build up your butt muscles or whatever, but occasionally it's a bit more than that even when you present initially with mild stiffness and sciatica.