What do you tell your GP?

[pokey]

They gave me a diagnosis and told me there was no cure and that treatments didn't do very much and pretty much left me at that. I don't think my GP does any research on my condition at all. It's pretty much all on me for 90% of what goes on.

That'll be the experience of almost everyone with a prolapsed disc or regular old back pain.  Steroid shots are supposed to be temporary and often do nothing, surgery might do nothing except steal your bladder control or worse.  That just leaves yoga-type exercise and time (and lifestyle-improvement).  And, sure, that works for a lot.  Years ago I got some pretty good painkillers from my GP whenever my back bothered me and they didn't work great but they took me down 1-2 points on the 10 point pain scale and let me function.  Now everyone's decided opiates don't work on back pain.  Try and explain that they do for you and you've got history on paper of being a responsible medicine-taker?  Nope, no pain relief for you!