matilda that link of the dogs and cats has just had me in hysterics with the children! one of them looks just like my cat! I am sorry you have had a bad few days, how you feeling now?
How is everyone else?
pumpkin re what to do for back spasms! I would second pretty much everyone Matilda has already said - especially diazepam. If you'd not have any now get some from your GP. It is brilliant stuff to have in your emergency box. My GP gives me around 14 x 2mg at a time, and that lasts mea round 4 months, I take them when I am at my absolute worst, and when p my back just won't stop spasming it's the only thing that works. I take between 2-4mg, twice a day for a couple of days, and it makes such a huge difference. Prior to my discectomy my muscles spasmed at this drop of a hat to the point of not being able to walk with crying out in pain. If I took it immediately, it would mean days for recovery not weeks.
Also heat and ice, a shower with heat up and directed at your back if you can get in the shower.
Re ortho vs neuro. I would agree with Matilda as you have sciatic pain. If your physio thinks facet joints then that might be why you are seeing a ortho, but, how does he know that? Have you had an MRI scan? The ortho will likely refer you for one anyway so it makes sense to have that done first, so it can highlight if it's the nerve being trapped/disc or not. Then, if it's facet joint problem you can have a direct injection into the joints to work ou for sure if that's the problem. The thing with neuro, is that they are usually trained in both neuro and ortho surgery so it makes sense with your bing sciatic pain to send you to neuro.
I have seen the neuro. He is not happy disappointed is what he has said. I think his pride was damaged as the surgery appears not have been fully successful 
He sat there with his arms folded all cross that I was in pain, like it was a personal attack on his skills when I walked in and sat down! It was very funny actually, he was all puffed up like a peacock!
The first thing he said was that he didn't need to ask how I was, as that was pretty obvious as I was hobbling! He said immediately that I need another MRI as something is not right.
He suspects the disc has re-prolapsed. He said that 1:20 re-prolapse but because there is a slipped vertebrae, this is probably higher for me. He also said that if he is right and par of the disc has squeezed back out, it's probably better to just take the whole thing out, especially if the vertebrae has slipped further, but even f it hasn't chances are disc will prolapse again. BUT. If it is not re- prolapsed disc, or, if the vertebrae has not sipped further then there is unlikely anything eye can do to fix this surgically. He was very honest about that, although he said he could not say what is accusing it if not the disc, because the suspects the disc. He was to unsympathetic, just that if not disc or vertebrae related, then it is not surgical and not his remit 
He did say that if it's a disc, then that short space where I was doing well is achievable again, he said that at least I know he can fix me again, hopefully for longer than 2 months. He ended by saying he was hopeful that he could fix it, if I wanted him to. So it really does me he thinks it's the disc again. But won't commit to that.
So, here we go again. Although this time it won't have to wait 18 weeks to see him again as if it's the disc he will probably just put me on his waiting list for surgery ! 