What can i do for a pinched nerve i have on my lower back? it also goes down my right leg towards the back right above the knee.

Get examination: This could be ligament sprain and lumbar instability and it causes irritation of the nerve and sends pain to the legs. A prolotherapist could help you. Find one near you at www.Getprolo.Com or www.Aaomed.Org.

Physical Therapy: Physical therapy is where your time and effort is better spent. This will help the pain but will also help to maintain fitness to get the least amount of symptoms from the pinched nerve.

Sciatica: Low back, buttock and "shooting" leg pain are all symptoms of a pinched nerve. It sounds like you may have that problem. If the pain is severe and limiting your activity still, the best non-narcotic medications that I have found to work for my patients are antiinflammatories such as Ibuprofen or Naproxen which are over-the-counter medications. Other non-narcotic medications include tramadol (ultram) which requires a prescription and nerve-pain medications such as gabapentin. These are all to be taken for temporary pain relief. This type of pain typically resolves with time. Ask your primary physician about these if the pain is still limiting you. If it is still going on for more than a month an MRI may be helpful to help sort out what is going on and there could be other potential treatments outside of surgery that could benefit you.