I'm due to have a second MRI in 3 weeks, as the first one they just scanned my hamstring area as that's where the pain was
Despite me repeatedly asking if the scan would be able to find the root cause of the back problems!
I generally get what feels like severe hamstring pain, and stabbing pains in my left arse cheek and I've had practically no feeling in my left foot for about 3 years.
As for pain relief, if I take any pain killers for more than about a month I end up immune to them and I refuse to go onto stronger ones and be zombiefied as its not fair on my little girl or my missus if I'm zonked out, I take tramadol now and again, but if find putting an ice pack across my backside helps, along with doing the press up style exercise they physio's always get you to do (keep your hips on the floor and push up)
A chiropractor can work wonders, but once you start going you'll have to keep going or the pain will come back tenfold!