Hi, I am getting a severe knife stabbing pain in my lower back on my right side, it is causing severe muslce tightness upwards and pain into the middle of my butt, and pain (muscle tightness) around the panty line.   This all started suddenly 6 weeks ago and on this day I jogged down a hill and also wore some winter boots with heels.   It hurt realy bad for a week and I rested and then was better for this 5 weeks until I decided to stretch and the pain came back furiously!How can I know what the problem is, do I need an MR?   And, when this pain is like a knife stabbing pain does it necessarily mean it is something to do with the spine, herniated disc or compressed disc.  Could it anything else?
Hi An x-ray spine and hip or pelvis is preliminary and testing of spine, hip joints, sacroiliac joint(pelvic) by physical examination by an orthopedic is required. After localizing the area involved one may proceed further. MRI spine is done once some spine localization is confirmed other musculo-tendiuous or ligamentous causes will also be found by physical examination, if any so examination is necessary before one can Chat Doctor. 