Can pain travel?

[aim4him]

I suffered a lumbar strain and had severe pain in lumbar and groin, especially when bending forward. Had buttock pain as well. I had positive nerve pain on right leg lift but not left at first. Had physical therapy and decompression and also started having more severe left sided buttock, groin, hip and leg pain down to knee, sometimes outer ankle while the right side was significantly improved. Also have bulging disks on thet s1- L 5. The injury was from someone very large yankng me sideways. I also have had problems getting the inflammation to subside. I  understand people can have bulging disks related to age but I never have had any back or nerve pain this. Could being yanked like this cause more bulging? If they were already there, why am I just now having all this pain? And lastly, is there an explanation for why or how my pain was more on the right side to start and then seemed to land on the left side with this chronic pain now?

[philnoir]

Here's a bit of medical lit that may help explain.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4331171/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4355564/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3759269/

and many others. Seach PMC for chronic pain and cord neuroplasticity

[aim4him]

My doctor keeps persevering over why my pain was worse on the right side when I first came to him and now it is mostly on the left, occasionally on the right. He looks at me like he doesn't believe me. I feel crazy but the pain is quite severe at times and is very difficult. Thanks again!

[aim4him]

Thank you. I have heard the term neuroplasticity used while working in a pediatric Neuro unit caring for children with traumatic brain injuries. I did not realize it could relate to chronic pain like this. It is interesting.

[philnoir]

Yes, with chronic pain, referred pain can exist on both sides, even though the disc bulge only affects one side.

This phenomenon used to puzzle me to no end, until neurological research demonstrated the process of neuroplasticity.

Chronic pain sometimes causes changes in spinal cord tissue, creating a kind of short circuit in the cord. Thus, you feel pain on the left, when you have a bulge on the right.

Similarly, referred pain can also be felt above or below the site of the bulge.

Inflammation is also a large factor in pain. Reducing inflammation in the area of the bulge can also reduce a great deal of referred pain. Sometimes, doctors will give steroid injections in an attempt to reduce inflammation. Results are not always consistent.

Sorry you're having such a hard time.