Could I have a Herniated Disk?

Since about aug. I have had lower back pain and also sharp pain down the back of my leg. I have been taking advil, etc. for the pain. But this has been going for months now and it hasn't gotten better. I know I should go in and get checked, but I somehwat hate going to the Doctor. But, my only concern is that I am 19 so am I to young to have a herniated disk? But, it's to the point where it even hurts when I'm sitting and when I am in bed. The pain seems to be getting worse. Could someone please help me out. Please, no answers that say I should go to the doctor and find out. I know I need to go in, which will probley do so if it is not better by this weekend.

Hey Honey: Your not to young for a herniated disc and it sounds like you have one. You may be lucky enough to have a bulging disc.
Of course it's getting worse, it's suppose to, your not paying attention to it, it wants you to give it care through a doctor. He'll probably have you take a series of CAT's or MRI's to determine what exactly is the problem. I wouldn't wait to long, it won't get any better and, why suffer?

You are not too young for a herniated disc, but there are numerous potential causes for the pain. See a doctor. Not only will you get a diagnosis, you will get treatment options.

I'm not a DR. but I have had a herniated disk. From what I know, and my own experience, they normally happen "suddenly". Or at least it SEEMS sudden, as the conditions that lead up to one are going on unnoticed, and then suddenly you do something, and WHAM! In my instance, I was just standing at the sink and sneezed! There was a horrible grinding feeling/noise in my back and pain so severe that I feel down and couldn't MOVE. IT was HORRIBLE. It took me almost 15 minutes to CRAWL 5 feet to the phone to call my mom, as my baby was asleep, and all i could think of was what would I do if he woke up and I couldn't move? Anyway, It was terrible pain, with a sudden onset. I was up and around SLOWLY after about 3 days, but took a good 6 weeks to stop hurting all the time everyday. That was 5 years ago, and I STILL have pain in that area, if it gets pushed on at all. Any pressure on that spot makes me want to yell. As yours seems to be gradually getting worse, I wouldn't THINK that was what you had. A nerve is obviously involved, as you are having pain down your leg. As I am not a DR. I don't know if there are different "extremes" of a herniated disk, mine being extreme where yours could be mild? I never asked, and I don't know if that is possible. If NOT, I would say you probably have something else going on. Really, without going to the Dr. and finding out for sure, we can all just kind of guess for you, and give you opinions, but that doesn't mean any of them is right. :-(
p.s....I like your "name" :-)

I have 2 of them, Same problems u had, Been going to Dr's for 2 years. I would ahve it checked out for sure.

I understand the pain

It has been a long time with hardly any relief. Some Correct
amounts of stretching and strenthening your abdominal
muscles is a try. Herniated disk is a possibility and if no releif
any time soon then it really would have to be checked out

I would have it checked. What is more likely than a herniated disc is a pinched nerve that causes sciatica. When there is pressure on the sciatic nerve you get shooting pains down your leg, usually the right leg. The pressure can be from a pinched nerve or from your lower back just being out of place.
I had this problem not too long ago, I went to my chiropractor for treatments and the problem was gone within like 2 weeks! Once my back was adjusted and there was no more pressure on the nerve all the pain went away.
Go to a chiropractor, not a regular MD. A regular MD will give you muscle relaxers and pain pills and send you on your way. A chiropractor will actually fix the problem your back is in, with no drugs.
Don't waste any time, your back will not magically adjust itself back into place.

I had a herniated disk. This is how it went:

Hurt back, couple days later pain went down buttock, few more days and pain went down back of leg, few more days and pain went all the way to ankle, few more days and side of foot felt tingly.
I ended up having surgery and it feels much better.

Sometimes chiropractic helps, when they do the electrical stimulation that basically exhausts the muscles so much they relax it can help greatly.