A certain degree of pain accompanies some forms of exercise, and this can include back pain. However, there’s a difference between “good” and “bad” pain, and your back is one place where lingering pain is problematic.
You may be surprised to find out that lower leg pain isn't always caused by a leg issue.
Nerve damage and herniated discs in the spine often occur in adults that lead a sedentary lifestyle or lift heavy loads regularly. Other risk factors include having poor posture or biomechanics, being overweight and smoking.
Our team of neurological surgeons at Atlas Neurosurgery and Spine Center is experienced at treating adults with leg and back pain. We want to share some signs that your leg pain might be caused by nerve damage or a herniated disc.
Radiating pain that travels through your buttocks and down one of your legs could be caused by damage to one of your lumbar disc impinging on the sciatic nerve. It is also characterized by tenderness in the lower back where the nerve exits the spinal column. This common problem may be caused by any of the risk factors mentioned, as well as by pregnancy, which places additional weight on the disc and nerve, or injury. Weakness in the affected leg may also occur.
If your leg numbness is also associated with diminished bladder or bowel control, it may be a sign of Cauda equina syndrome, which requires immediate medical attention as it can lead to permanent paralysis, bowel or bladder incontinence. Fortunately, these complications are rare and can be readily treated as a medical emergency.
If you experience leg pain when you are sitting down or standing up for prolonged periods, you may be dealing with a slipped disc in your lower back. Pain worsens because sitting down or standing puts a lot of pressure on herniated discs, pushing them against your nerves.
Twisting and bending may cause pain as well. Lying down may bring relief to your leg because it takes the pressure away from your lower back.
Many systemic diseases can damage either the nerve or the bone structure, increasing your chances of experiencing pain. If you have a systemic disease, the first step in tackling the pain is keeping your underlying condition under control.
Ailments such as diabetes can lead to issues because high blood sugar levels slow down bone cell formation and damage nerves in your extremities, often leading to peripheral neuropathy.
Other systemic ailments that may increase leg pain include lupus, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and hyperthyroidism.
At Atlas Neurosurgery and Spine Center, we can help you get a clear diagnosis of what’s causing your leg pain, and we have a large variety of treatments for you to choose from.
If you live in Phoenix, Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona or Sun City West, Arizona, and leg pain is harming the quality of your life, contact us to schedule an appointment and get treatment.
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A certain degree of pain accompanies some forms of exercise, and this can include back pain. However, there’s a difference between “good” and “bad” pain, and your back is one place where lingering pain is problematic.
Generally, your chances of experiencing a herniated disc in your spine increase with age, since disc degeneration often results from the wear and tear of daily living. Just as your skin loses moisture, so do spinal discs.
Chronic lower back pain often stems from nerve irritation due to ruptured disks or other narrowing of spaces through which these nerves pass. This condition is called lumbar radiculopathy and it may need multifaceted treatment.
An operation on your spine, even a minor one, is a significant procedure. Recovery times can be long if bone tissue needs to heal, so following your surgeon’s after-surgery care instructions could help you keep your healing time short.
Even if you’re not fond of needles, it’s worth putting your fears aside for nerve block injections for chronic pain. You could experience months-long pain relief, reducing your need to take opioid medications or delaying major surgery.
There’s usually a combination of reasons why you develop back pain, and there’s a very good chance you will, since four out of five American adults experience it sometime in their lives. Some everyday conditions may be adding to your back pain risk.