[spanky (aka Lola)]

I would definitely recommend seeing a doctor. The fact that you have no pain when seated is an indication that the problem is structural. You can start with a primary care physician or look for an orthopedic specialist. A good chiropractor could also help shed some light on the issue.

A classic symptom of spinal stenosis is relief while sitting or bending over, and pain while standing, walking, or extending (arching your back). Severe stenosis would pinch the nerves in your spine and cause pain/numbness in your legs. The fact that the pain is localized to your back is actually a good thing (at least it is if your issue is indeed spinal).

It could also be muscular (your piriformis muscle). You can Google that for lots of info on how to gently stretch the muscle and eliminate the pain (if it is the cause).

Still, if the pain is manageable, give a break to the PM and see if it resolves. If it does then follow Kai Leigh's advice and see if you can work slowly back up to high dosages.

Good luck!

Misty

Thanks for the advice, Misty. I went a couple of days with no PM, and yesterday started taking Advil every 8 hours. It has been feeling better, with significantly less intense pain on rising from a chair. Perhaps prematurely, I just took some PM. I missed it. If pain returns, I will stop again.