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What Causes Radiating Pain In Buttocks, Behind The Legs, Feet And Legs?
Question: For about 3 monthes my very lower back L1-L3 in that area has been hurting me. It started out not all the time, and would run down my butt and backs of my legs, but also not all the time. Its slowly progressed to pain all the time now. Aso runs down both legs all the way to the bottoms of my feet all the time and shrp pains like swords going down my legs part of the time. Its very hard to sit down and even harder to get up. Need help alot to get up from sitting position. Pain ranges from 7-10 on pain scale, and legs are very weak, try to come out from under me sometimes. Pain sometimes radiates through to front of my hips also.
Brief Answer:
A neurological clinical examination followed by imaging is recommended
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
Sorry to hear about your pain and discomfort. I wish to share my experience with patients who come to me with similar problems.
1. Regularly I come across patients with similar symptoms in my clinical practice. In most people with low back ache, a cause in the spinal column and the vertebrae is important to be looked for. In some women a low back ache can be from a pelvic or gynecologic condition.
2. However, since your pain is involving the L 1 - L 3 level and is progressively increasing in intensity, you write 7 to 10 on pain scale, it might be from neurological cause and probably from pressure on the nerve roots. The spinal cord ends at L 1 and below this level there are nerve roots exiting the spinal canal. If there is any pinching of nerve roots or pressure over them then there is pain in lower back which can radiate to the legs.
3. In the above case, it is important to do a clinical neurological examination and then get x ray of lumbar spine and pelvis and MRI scan of the region. This will locate any cause in the spinal vertebrae, discs or any pressure over the nerves in its course. Any bone changes causing the problem will also be known.
In conclusion, I recommend you to consult your neurologist urgently and as get x ray of lumbar spine and pelvis and MRI of the region as required. Ultrasound scan pelvis might also be required in some patients.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
A neurological clinical examination followed by imaging is recommended
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
Sorry to hear about your pain and discomfort. I wish to share my experience with patients who come to me with similar problems.
1. Regularly I come across patients with similar symptoms in my clinical practice. In most people with low back ache, a cause in the spinal column and the vertebrae is important to be looked for. In some women a low back ache can be from a pelvic or gynecologic condition.
2. However, since your pain is involving the L 1 - L 3 level and is progressively increasing in intensity, you write 7 to 10 on pain scale, it might be from neurological cause and probably from pressure on the nerve roots. The spinal cord ends at L 1 and below this level there are nerve roots exiting the spinal canal. If there is any pinching of nerve roots or pressure over them then there is pain in lower back which can radiate to the legs.
3. In the above case, it is important to do a clinical neurological examination and then get x ray of lumbar spine and pelvis and MRI scan of the region. This will locate any cause in the spinal vertebrae, discs or any pressure over the nerves in its course. Any bone changes causing the problem will also be known.
In conclusion, I recommend you to consult your neurologist urgently and as get x ray of lumbar spine and pelvis and MRI of the region as required. Ultrasound scan pelvis might also be required in some patients.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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