Chronic pain Support - Leg Pain related to back

Author

Leg Pain related to back

Bob Rasmussen

2006-02-08, 1:53 am

Afternoon, all...

I am experiencing a burning sensation on my left hip and/or shin.
It seems to come and go, mostly come. Sometimes it's behind
my left butt, sometimes point of my left hip and most frequently
alongside my left shin. I am suspecting a back problem which
was similar this time last year caused by two herniated disks
in my lower back. I do not have back pain or stiffness now. Neither
aspirin or naproxin seem to dull the pain. Nothing that the doctor
gave me last year helped the pain either. Only icing the small of
back seemed to relieve the problem after a couple of weeks. I only
get a little relief when standing or sitting. Sleeping seems to be the
biggest problem.

I do work out three times per week, but, have been very careful
not to do exercises that compress the back, i.e., squats, shrugs,
overhead presses, etc.

My main question is -- has anyone experienced leg pain such as
described that was related to a lower back problem? Secondly,
has anyone ever used a "Physiatrist?" I have an appt. next Thursday.

Regards...Bob

--
______________
lvMMMCDLXXIX+1

OldGoat

2006-02-08, 1:53 am

Dear Bob,

Yes to all your questions. Leg pain can be from bad disks in the back.
Usually it involves some type of impingement on a nerve, from the sounds of
it, your sciatic nerve. It hurts like hell, don't it?
The good news is usually the pain down the leg can be resolved to some
extent, but the pain in the back is another thing all together. Maybe
someday but not today (of course everyone is different, so I hope you have
better luck than I did.
I have actually seen 3 physiatrists, but had no idea that the first two were
anything other than orthopedists. The first one was a moron and I don't
think he's in practice anymore. He was a young guy so he may have just
screwed the wrong person. Or made enough to retire on. The second was moving
his practice to Georgia the following week, which is a shame cause he was a
good guy. The last one recently did an EMG on me and he seemed like a good
guy too, even while he was sticking needles in my legs.
Physiatrists seem to be a marriage of both orthopedists and neurologists, so
you don't have to worry about them favoring one specialty over another, and
they're looking at you not as a back with some wasted disks, but are
supposed to take the whole of you in to consideration when looking at you.
But like with any job out there, there's good ones and bad ones, so it's
always going to be a crapshoot at first. Just don't lose the mind set that
you are hiring a doctor, he's your employee, so don't be afraid to fire them
if their performance isn't up to it.
I'll leave you with a tip for the leg pain that I have been giving out so
much I'm thinking about making it a sig. First get your wallet out of your
back pocket. We're all guilty of it, but it's the worst possible place to
carry one if you have back pain. You should sit in a semi hard chair on a
tennis ball. It works great for that down the leg pain. Give it about 10
minutes, less, if you find your foot going to sleep. You'll know the exact
spot when you feel it, it should be right around the pocket you took the
wallet out of. It works like a champ.

Take care and good luck at the docs--og

"Bob Rasmussen" <bobrass@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:P8sEf.2259$6d.240@trnddc06...
> Afternoon, all...
>
> I am experiencing a burning sensation on my left hip and/or shin.
> It seems to come and go, mostly come. Sometimes it's behind
> my left butt, sometimes point of my left hip and most frequently
> alongside my left shin. I am suspecting a back problem which
> was similar this time last year caused by two herniated disks
> in my lower back. I do not have back pain or stiffness now. Neither
> aspirin or naproxin seem to dull the pain. Nothing that the doctor
> gave me last year helped the pain either. Only icing the small of
> back seemed to relieve the problem after a couple of weeks. I only
> get a little relief when standing or sitting. Sleeping seems to be the
> biggest problem.
>
> I do work out three times per week, but, have been very careful
> not to do exercises that compress the back, i.e., squats, shrugs,
> overhead presses, etc.
>
> My main question is -- has anyone experienced leg pain such as
> described that was related to a lower back problem? Secondly,
> has anyone ever used a "Physiatrist?" I have an appt. next Thursday.
>
> Regards...Bob
>
>
>
>
> --
> ______________
> lvMMMCDLXXIX+1
>

Bob Rasmussen

2006-02-08, 1:53 am

Thanks OG. Appreciate the quick response. I also had a little problem
which may or may not be related. I had complained about a fluttering
sensation under my left rib cage which seems to come and go. I had a
CT scan, but, nothing showed up. If you stand akimbo, your left index
finger
will touch the approximate location. My GP thought it was a muscle
spasm, but, it is a bit painful. Thought I might want to have an
endoscopy to see if anything was amiss when this leg thingy reared
up. I will be taking the CT images to the doctor (physiatrist) on Thursday.

I have had the sciatic nerve mentioned last year. Hopefully, the doctor
can provide some suggestions to relieve the leg pain. Last year for the
first time I went to a chiropractor and the pain subsided for a short
time. Unfortunately, she was not covered by Medicare. Or, lets say
she chose not to be covered. I may seek out someone who is.

Thanks...Bob

--
______________
lvMMMCDLXXIX+1
"OldGoat" <oldgoatmail@ERdocsuckyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:BMsEf.13852$Ix.1775@trnddc07...
> Dear Bob,
>
> Yes to all your questions. Leg pain can be from bad disks in the back.
> Usually it involves some type of impingement on a nerve, from the sounds
> of it, your sciatic nerve. It hurts like hell, don't it?
> The good news is usually the pain down the leg can be resolved to some
> extent, but the pain in the back is another thing all together. Maybe
> someday but not today (of course everyone is different, so I hope you have
> better luck than I did.
> I have actually seen 3 physiatrists, but had no idea that the first two
> were anything other than orthopedists. The first one was a moron and I
> don't think he's in practice anymore. He was a young guy so he may have
> just screwed the wrong person. Or made enough to retire on. The second was
> moving his practice to Georgia the following week, which is a shame cause
> he was a good guy. The last one recently did an EMG on me and he seemed
> like a good guy too, even while he was sticking needles in my legs.
> Physiatrists seem to be a marriage of both orthopedists and neurologists,
> so you don't have to worry about them favoring one specialty over another,
> and they're looking at you not as a back with some wasted disks, but are
> supposed to take the whole of you in to consideration when looking at you.
> But like with any job out there, there's good ones and bad ones, so it's
> always going to be a crapshoot at first. Just don't lose the mind set that
> you are hiring a doctor, he's your employee, so don't be afraid to fire
> them if their performance isn't up to it.
> I'll leave you with a tip for the leg pain that I have been giving out so
> much I'm thinking about making it a sig. First get your wallet out of your
> back pocket. We're all guilty of it, but it's the worst possible place to
> carry one if you have back pain. You should sit in a semi hard chair on a
> tennis ball. It works great for that down the leg pain. Give it about 10
> minutes, less, if you find your foot going to sleep. You'll know the exact
> spot when you feel it, it should be right around the pocket you took the
> wallet out of. It works like a champ.
>
> Take care and good luck at the docs--og
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Bob Rasmussen" <bobrass@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:P8sEf.2259$6d.240@trnddc06...
>
>

mcam54@hotmail.com

2006-02-16, 11:27 am

Back pain can radiate down the leg either as referred pain or as
"radicular" pain which is irritation of the nerve root. I know a
number of physiatrists who are quite good with back pain. With any
healthcare provider, regardless of training, they must have additional
knowledge of the spine. You would be surprised how many haven't read
much of the latest research. Good luck.

Marc
www.thebackpage.net