Hi, I have suffered from lower back pain for some years. Sometimes I have no problems and then it will flare for a while, often without any reason I can think of. I can have sciatica and can quite often lose control of, usually my left, leg partially or wholly collapsing in agony. This isn t great as i am a teacher. During flares I will have a constant ache with excruciating pain if I move too much. I walk around, when I can like an ape. The pain is right at the base of the spine and towards the right side. Sometimes I have pains in my ribs too when rolling over or breathing heavily. Even on good days I am very stiff in the mornings, finding it hard to twist or bend. At present I am going through a really bad time and am finding it hard to function, it took me twenty minutes this morning to put my underwear on, never mind wash or go down stairs. As per usual it does ease a little through the day but if I sit or lie down for a while it worsens. I have been taking anti inflammatories and pain killers but they just send me to sleep and upset my stomach. What should I have checked?