Thanks Guest and Bearheart. I've virtually stopped drinking beer (Aaaaaaaaagh!) and do plenty of stretching and other exercises. From tonight I'm back to the gym 3-4 times a week...it's been too painfull to go up until now. I've started cycling again, slowly and gently. Too much seems to aggravate the sciatica.

The scar tissue issue, oh what poetry, is one to explore I think. I just wonder what the physio will make of it all.

John