Painful Back....Meds, home remedies, what???

   The other day I pinched a nerve in my back and man did it hurt. To be quite honest I am not sure what I did. I noticed my lower back hurting, then after awhile my legs went numb!!! Not good for a busy mom with a husband that is gone frequently.
   What should I do? Currently, we do not have health insurance. I don't usually go to the doctor but once a year anyways. I almost always try to heal/help myself my educating myself on what the problem is. I decided that if after Friday, one week from the pain, it was still extremely painful I would pay to see a doctor. Tue I used a heating pad all day. Wen (today), I iced for 15 minutes, then heat pad for 15 minutes.  I did this for several hours. Then I read online to use honey and cinnamon as a rub. Well with the combination, I am now doing so much better. I also stretched and relaxed for the day.
   My point is, don't jump to see a doctor if it is something you can do! If you know you can fix it, then do it. By the time you drive to the doctors, get seen, get x-rayed, get a prescription if you get one, drive to the pharmacy then drive home, you could have already been feeling better.
I believe 100% in our doctor's and nurse's, that is why I think we, as people, need to open our eyes to what we can do! We need to educate ourselves, when to fix it ourselves, when to see a doctor, when to go an Emergency Room.
   I worked in the ER for some time and it drove most of us nuts when someone come in with a cough. I mean a basic cough, which it just started. I am not talking about asthmatics, elderly or other people with serious problems. Most of the time the doctor seen them, did a xray (to ease the patient) and sent them on their way. That is a big bill for not much of anything. When the person could have taken about 2 teaspoons of honey to help with the cough.
  Also, we as nation are becoming way to dependent on medication! We are destroying our livers and body's. There is so much information on the web to help you understand what is going on with your body. Then you can cross reference it to home remedies, and if it doesn't get better after a couple of days, or it becomes worse, then you see a doctor. But we need to let the doctors see the people who really need them. The seriously ill people, the dying, the elderly, not healthy person who has a simple cold. Know your body, know your symptoms and know home remedies.
For Symptoms here are a few sites:
Mayo Clinic
Web MD
Everyday Health
Healthy Children
Health Line
i Triage
AARP
Better Medicine
 There are so many more, but these are a few of my favorite ones.
For Remedies
Granny Med
Natural Home Remedies
Discovery
Home Remedy Haven
Ayurvedic Cure
Peoples Pharmacy
Home Treatment
Speedy Remedies
And of course there are so many more.
I want to really stress the importance of knowing your body. Do things for yourself.
Try Acupuncturist, Chinese Doctors, and Church leaders.
On the other hand, if you really feel there is something wrong with you and your doctor does not do anything about it, search additional opinions.
Hope I have opened your eyes up. Know your body!!!!