Could you clarify what you mean by "cyclical," "flaring up," and "last as long"? Do you mean to say that there are periods of time when you have absolutely zero pain, or is it just so minimal compared to the worst that it basically seems like zero pain?

I ask because I think one thing missing from this board is information about how many of us experience pain free moments, or days, or whatever, as part of our normal without-treatment pain. In other words, assuming no medical treatment, is our pain constant, variable but constant, or intermittent so that most days we lead normal lives? In my case, I just can't say because it has been two weeks and the pain keeps changing slightly. It started on my right side, stayed there as a sharp pain for about a week and a half, then it moved as a dull ache in both sides, then I managed to have sex with my wife (Yayyyy!!!!) and the dull ache went away only to be replaced with the usual sharp pain on the right side. Perhaps the dull ache was just congestion from being out of commission for almost two weeks.

I am no doctor, but it seems that if the pain was caused by nerve damage, it wouldn't just go away and come back, sometimes years apart (unless our minds just learn to filter it out). It seems more likely that either genetics or an initial infection has left the area susceptible to recurrent infection or inflammation, kind of how one back injury can make you careful for life.

Whatever the cause, obviously it would be nice to know for sure, so that we can ensure that we don't cause further damage.