Sorry to hear about your discomfort. Back pain is no joke, as I know from personal experience. I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease in my 40's. Suffered from lower back pain although not as bad as your's from the description ie having to remain supine.
Over the years I've had PT sessions, muscle relaxant prescriptions and ultrasound/laser therapy. Of all these interventions the ultrasound and now laser therapy has provided the best and most long term relief. I have a laser therapy instrument at home for just-in-case situations and find it useful for any number of musculoskeletal problems. I also find positioning 2 tennis balls in a bag on either side of the spine helps too. Likewise massage therapy helps loosen the muscles and relieve irritation. Similarly heat packs that you put in the microwave are great too. It's all about trying different things and finding what works best for you.
In my case the pain was caused by muscle spasms in the lower back. The localised heat generated by the ultrasound and laser helped relax the muscles and allowed the body to recover. Now I take care not to irritate the back that might lead to spasms.
Yoga can help too as it stretches the muscles. I was offered localised injected pain relief in the back but that was too invasive for me, but this could be a useful option for you.
Surgery is an option to either fuse vertebrate or replace the affected discs. I think it depends which discs are affected to guide the appropriate surgical intervention.
Wishing you fast recovery and getting back in the Cali where we all want to be. Good luck.
Thanks for your kind response. I am suffering an L4/L5 herniation, brought on my moving house but not made easier by discovering I have a transitional disc below. This means I was born with more bone than I should have and don’t really have much of a developed L5/S1 disc. Hence, the eventual pressure on discs above.
I have a mild protrusion that’s pressing on my L5 nerve and causing pain that is far from mild. It’s been four months though. And I have improved significantly. I still can’t sit on the sofa, lie on my left side, get in any vehicle, or stand for longer than 30 mins. But I am getting there.
I tried physio in the early days. Some posture stuff too. And a hell of a lot of walking. But the nerve just wasn’t settling so I’m trying a new thing: rest. I move around the house, don’t get me wrong. But I am mostly lying on the lounge floor, resting. It’s working. Better sleep, way less pain.
I’m working with a back specialist who has made such a difference. Ideally, he wants me walking. But not if it inflames the nerve. So we are just taking it easy. I’ve done that for two weeks. I’ve got another two weeks to go. I am instructed to walk if I can.
Yesterday, after three weeks of improvement, I had a setback. The nerve just wouldn’t settle and I was in pain all day. I’m trying to come off all meds too, you see. Not making life easier.
I’ve got a good plan for recovery. I know it will take time. Thank you for your kindness. I hope you don’t suffer