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Back and Leg Pain
Lower back and leg pain is one of the most common forms of back problem. This
combination
is very hard for a patient to deal with, since it really cuts down on their mobility and functionality.
Lower back pain
often involves nerves that control the movement and feeling in our legs. Pain that develops in the lumbar spine will often radiate downwards to the thighs, knees, calves, ankles or feet.
Back and Leg Pain from Nerve Involvement
Pain in the legs and lower back will sometimes be the result of a
pinched nerve
in the lumbar spinal region. Nerve involvement can create symptoms in both the back and in the areas of the legs served by that affected nerve. If a motor nerve is involved, there may be muscular
weakness
or soreness in the legs or feet. If a sensory nerve is compressed, the result can be pain,
tingling
or
numbness.
Nerve compression usually takes place in one of the nerve roots that eventually join the
sciatic nerve
sciatic nerve. The following conditions are all associated with leg and lower back pain due to nerve involvement:
* Sciatica
* Piriformis Syndrome
* Spinal Stenosis
* Herniated Discs
* Spondylolisthesis
* Back Muscle Spasm
* Facet Joint Syndrome
* Arthritis in the Spine
Back and Leg Pain from Muscular Injury
The lower back muscles work closely with the buttocks and upper leg muscles. It is common for a muscular injury in the lower back to affect the usage of these muscles as well.
Back muscle pain
can also change a person’s posture and gait. Sometimes this change creates stress in the ankles, knees or feet. This change can cause pain in the affected areas of the legs. Muscular pain can be very severe, but is usually not serious. Most muscular pain will correct itself in a matter of days or weeks.
Recommendation for Back and Leg Pain
I had to deal with this killer combo for 18 years. My lower back pain always made my legs hurt as well. Sometimes, the pain would
burn
and radiate down both legs. Other times, my ankles throbbed. I had a series of knee injuries in martial arts training that I believe came from poor posture. This posture change was definitely from my
chronic back pain.
Towards the end of my back pain experience, my upper and outer thighs hurt 24/7.
Sitting,
standing,
walking
or
sleeping
made no difference to the pain. It simply continued around the clock...Back and leg conditions can be a real trial. Proper diagnosis of the root cause is the best hope for successful treatment. Make sure to inform your care provider of any changes in your normal back pain. Symptoms that spread to the legs, or change often in the legs, should be reported to your doctor. Remember that
ischemia
is often the underlying source of lower body pain and discomfort. If your pain has defied treatment, I urge you to consider this as a possible causation of your agony.
Back and Leg Pain to Back Pain Home
7/29/06 Revised 8/10/09

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