I've had pain in my lower back, left hip, down the outside of my left thigh to my knee and now going below the knee. I have been to 8 doctors including a major university, pain clinics and the VA. It started at least 30 years ago, first mild pain and gradually progressed. Now I have gnawing pain in my lower back, hip and leg that can only be reduced by hydrocodone. No one has given a name to my condition until my physical therapist told me they were treating me for gluteal tendinopathy. I had suspected that. Just talked with my primary card doctor who told me I have only one option left and that's back surgery. I don't want to have back surgery because I have NEVER known anyone who had back surgery to be better afterward. He understands. I asked for a referral to Mayo and he will do it but says in his experience only 2 or 3 percent of referrals are accepted.