I have lower back pain ,leg weakness and my feet drag when i attempt to jog.

[bigfoot1]

I have had sciatica for a long time now. My lower back starts to ache, both my legs are weak, I'm unable to jog anymore because my left foot drags after a few laps.  I have no idea what's happening to me. Can you give me a possible diagnosis?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

It is impossible to diagnose over the internet.  

I would investigate for a herniated disk, pinched nerve, or other neurological disease.  

An MRI of the lower back to evaluate the cause of the sciatica can be considered.  

EMGs and other electrodiagnostic tests can be considered as well.

I would discuss this issue with a neurologist or your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_

[expatient]

Check your pelvis. Is it aligned? Are your legs equal length? Any scoliosis?

They are all common symptoms of SIJD - very common disorder but continuously misdiagnosed...

Start from there:
www.SiDysfunction.com

[Rich111]

to bigfoot1

I thought I was alone in universe with this problem.
I hope this helps.

I am also a runner and my left foot has been dragging.
I fell on my left side around 3 years ago.
I developed sciatica.
Then 6 months later my left leg decided it did not want to move any longer.  Walking is ok, but when running knee does not bend enough. I saw a neurologist.  MRI showed a disc bulge at L3/L4.
Months of PT, accupuncture and lots of other stuff but kind of back where I started.

My weakness is just in my left leg.  I am now convinced I have a pinched nerve.  Fortunately I have no pain just tighness.
I have started seeing a chiropracter to see if it can help.

What else have you done.

Good luck

[crazyfrog123]

About 2 years ago I felt this terrible pain at back my lower back and about  week I couldn’t bend to any side neither left nor right. In fact since I didn’t have insurance I just ignore it and waited for fade away. After a while it did actually, it showed time to time but disappeared after. About a year ago this pain came again, I started to see chiropractor for about 3 months and since pain didn’t relieved he asked for MRI. In the meantime my right foot developed slight numbness that accompanied to upper back pain. Since this pain spreading rather than fading away chiropractor suggested to see a Neurosurgeon along with my MRI. I did as he suggested. Neurosurgeon checked my MRI and asked for couple exercise to see my flexibility then decided I don’t have any structural issues only need exercise to work my muscles. I started to swim as he asked but after 5-10 days of swimming I had another problem, spasm. In the middle of the night when I was sleeping this excruciating pain was coming out. It was deadly pain that enough to wake me up, my upper back became so stiff for about 1-2 minutes then let me back to sleep.
Later I saw an MD with same complains by thinking that he may suggest something new. He did, he asked for Ultrasound for and some bloodwork against the possibility of kidney stone, that came out clear. He prescribed some pain killer and muscle relaxant, and told me if it’s not going to work then I need to see a neurosurgeon
So in the light of this story what do you think? What doctor or profession I should go and see for my problem?
People suggesting do exercise but how can I exercise when I can not even swim or sleep? This pain is wandering around my back but every time around my muscles, please give me some suggestions.



Thanks

[NLITEN]

After suffering with low back pain and being unable to find any relief my wife was referred by a friend to a physical therapist in Gainesville, Georgia - They were able to diagnose her problem as a sacroiliac joint dysfunction.  This condition does not show up on an xray, MRI or ct scan.  After six weeks of therapy her condition improved greatly.  She is still working with a related annular tear in a disk. The therapist she saw, Vicki Sims, has written a book "The Secret Cause of Low Back Pain" which pretty much tells all there is to know about this condition, including what can be done about it. She tells me that people come from all over the country to see her for evaluation because most doctors and chiropracters cannot diagnose this condition.

[Gina234]

A related discussion, What am I ill of? was started.