PHOENIX -- Center fielder Mark Kotsay, out since Monday with the same type of lower-back spasms that cost him chunks of playing time in the past two seasons, didn't hear anything new on Thursday when relayed the results of his MRI exam.

Thus, he's flying to Los Angeles early Friday, MRI films in hand, in search of a fresh medical perspective.

"The radiologist here said I have a herniation, L3-4 [lumbar vertebrae]," Kotsay told MLB.com by phone on Thursday afternoon. "It's kind of old news; we've had this and dealt with it the last two seasons. So I'm going to go see a doctor in L.A. and see what he has to say about it."

Kotsay then went out of his way to make sure his trip wasn't perceived as a sign of displeasure with Oakland's medical staff.

"I guess you could call it a second opinion, but it's nothing against our guys at all," he said. "It's more just me wanting to get as much information as possible and try to make sure everybody's on the same page as far as what's the best way to handle treating it."

A's team doctors and athletic trainers are prohibited by the new Collective Bargaining Agreement from discussing Kotsay's situation with the media.

Thursday morning at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, Kotsay said that this particular episode of back tightness is the worst he's suffered since joining the A's before the 2004 season. This also is the earliest he's ever been shelved, and because he's taken several steps to address the problem every offseason, he's close to wit's end.

"We've tried pretty much everything," he said. "I don't know if there's much more we can do as far as prevention."

Kotsay came to the A's in a trade with the Padres after the 2003 season, and his back was an issue even then. He spent part of the 2003 season on the disabled list with a sprained lower back, and the A's had him thoroughly examined by doctors before pulling the trigger on the deal.

"But my first year [with the A's], 2004, it didn't bother me at all," he said.

The back forced Kotsay to miss 25 of Oakland's final 51 regular-season games in 2006, and after he managed to get through two rounds of playoff games, he started his winter workouts later than usual to make sure he was fully rested. Looking to increase his flexibility in an effort to stave off the spasms, he added Yoga stretches to an offseason program that includes Pilates and weight-lifting.

"Obviously, you're going to try to do whatever might help, and I have," he said. "That's what makes it so frustrating."