I have back issues... but I'm not bad enough to operate (LONG story) I had a cortisone shot in my spine and a week later was back on the bike. That was after being on crutches so I could walk, taking 30 minutes to walk to the end of the road and back, my second Christmas of sobriety...(couldn't drink on the meds). Just so you can see, here's a scan of my back. And this was the second time, and wasn't as bad as the first...
For those that don't know.. the black bulge sticking into the white bit - shouldn't be there. That's the disc sticking out and pushing somewhere else (I think)on the nerve.
The first time it went... (see why I'm annoyed about not being being bad enough...I'm 33 for christs sake) I had the sciatica you're talking about. Like a poker down the inside of my leg and through my back. A seriously hot poker. 2" thick.I can't imagine child birth hurting that much... I used to get asked 'give the pain a level between 1 and 10'. Minimum would be an 11.
Physio has kind of worked, but you have to keep it up. When they say do 1/2 hour every day, they mean it. Every day. I learnt the hard way - the second spell was a recurrence of the first one... like you've had. I now do 20 mins before getting out of bed. Even then mornings still hurt till I've got walking around.
But get rid of the Americas...NEVER.
It's not happening. I wear a full length back support, I know my limits, don't ride for more than 90 mins without getting off and stretching, and use the back pegs to alter my seating position.
06 America - missing, presumed in bits. With it's TBS wheel... 
09 America - It's very blue....
