Greetings, Bill. I would definitely suggest seeing a doctor - your back pain is not going to improve by itself. I suggest starting with your primary care doc and s/he can evaluate you and make an appropriate referral. There are lots of docs who treat "back pain", and you will want to study and prepare yourself before you start talking with anyone. Learn as much about your back as possible and research your specific issues. If you don't have a medical background, just start with basics. You will want to be able to be as knowledgeable as possible as you talk with a doc. For years I was able to manage my pain with exercises, physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, etc. I avoided an orthopedic surgeon because I knew they would (most likely) talk about surgery. It's what they do, after all. my problems have progressed to the point where I need pain mgmt. My back will not improve, so it's about quality of life. After an evaluation, get a referral to a good Physical Therapist. S/he can give you exercises and make suggestions about sleeping positions. Let me know what you decide and how you are doing. Good luck! Sue