Wisewoman, it might be a good idea to have your doctor refer you to a neurologist/surgeon to decide if lumbar epidural steroid injections would be beneficial. When I was first diagnosed with L-5,S-1, herniated/bulging disc, sciatica, stenosis, etc., I was given 3 injections. These injections were administered through a Pain Management Center. I was in excrutiating pain and could not sit or stand for over 10 minutes before the steroid injections. The injections did relieve the pain for a couple of months.

I believe a neurologist would be the specialist you should be seeing since the pain you are having is a bulging/herniated disc pushing against your spine (sciatica).

Let's keep in touch.