Lower back pain help?

Last week, a few buddies and I were lifting some heavy gear, and out of nowhere, my lower back just seized up right above my glutes. It was brutal. I couldn't even move—I had to practically crawl my way to the nearest chair. The pain is sharp, and it’s shooting all the way down my legs. After three days, things calmed down a bit, and I popped four Aleve during that stretch. Then, on Sunday, I went for a two-hour walk, which was probably a huge mistake. Yesterday, I went to squat down to tie my shoes and—bam—hit with that exact same sensation. I almost ended up paralyzed by the pain again. I’m back on the Aleve (this is my third dose since yesterday morning), but honestly, nothing is helping. I'm walking like a damn robot right now; it takes me at least a full minute just to cover five feet.

Anyone got advice on what I should actually do here? Or am I just stuck waiting for time to do its thing? Oh, and yeah, I've been rubbing some sports injury gel on it.

Just stick to total rest for now—no squats, no bending over, and absolutely zero lifting anything heavy. Take some Advil if you need to. If things haven't improved within a week, you really need to go see a doctor. It sounds pretty obvious that you've done some damage to one of the discs in your lower lumbar region. You cannot be lifting heavy loads under any circumstances right now.

Thanks for the heads-up. I'm playing it safe now and keeping up with my physical therapy exercises.
So, looking ahead—say, after about a week or so—should I be starting any light workouts? And if so, what exactly am I looking at? Maybe there’s a link or something out there.
Thanks

No, absolutely not. Any kind of exercise is completely off the table right now. Don't go playing around with that idea; the number of people heading into surgery is already climbing too fast.

How long does this kind of thing usually last before things actually start feeling normal again? I mean, how long am I going to have to baby my movements? I’m obviously not talking about heavy lifting here, just basic daily motion... because right now, I’m being incredibly cautious with every single move I make.
Once this whole mess is finally over, should I be looking into physical therapy or specific exercises? And if so, what kind of stuff actually works?

How long this is going to drag on? Honestly, I haven't the slightest clue. If you don't see some improvement within the next few days, you really ought to get yourself to a doctor. Here’s the cold, hard truth: you’re going to have to steer clear of heavy lifting, sitting with poor posture, and any sudden twisting motions for the rest of your life. Just because the pain subsides doesn't mean the underlying issue has vanished. One wrong move down the road could cost you dearly. You absolutely shouldn't be attempting any exercises on your own, but you can certainly look into physical therapy covered by Medicare. Get in touch with your primary care physician immediately!