I've had lower back pain for about 48-60 hours now. I was taking a flight and I bent over to take off my shoes in the security line and I had to sit down in the airport, finding it difficult to get back up.

I had a horrendous flight and thought I'd need an ambulance when I landed to get me out of my seat. Somehow I managed to get up and be brought home, where I've been in bed since. I know bed rest isn't recommended but the pain I get when I stand up is so severe that I feel light headed and need to sit back down.

I've managed to make a few trips to the bathroom with the use of a cane.

It's not quite as painful as it was but it doesn't seem to be healing very quickly.

Symptoms are:

Extreme pain when standing in the lower back just above my pelvis. (8 on the 1-10 scale of pain)
Extreme pain when bending over. (10 on the 1-10 scale of pain)
Discomfort when lying on my back (3 on the 1-10 scale of pain)
Pain goes through my pelvis and tailbone but not very far down my leg when I stand up.
I feel like the weight of my upper body is putting a lot of stress on my lower back when I stand.
When I walk I fear that I'll topple forward and arch move back (which is agony)

My details:
Male, 23.
190pounds - 5ft 11in
Exercise 4-5 times a week up until a recent illness a few weeks ago - running 30 mins a day, light free weight training. I'm qualified as a personal trainer so my stance is fine.
I work from home as a designer now and spend a lot of time sitting


I'm currently lying with a rolled up towel under the small of my back and it provides some relief. I've been afraid to stretch too much in case it's a herniated disk and I push it out further.