I have left leg pain since April of this year

[Jackie053081]

The concerts will be the Migrant Dinner on December 2nd and the school concert on December 14, all a little tentative depending on school...thank you!

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On Oct 2, 2015, at 6:50 PM, Jaquelin Esquer  wrote:

I have left leg pain since April of this year. Was told it was sciatica at first and got cortisone injection twice.  And went to physical therapy for 6 weeks with no help.  Pain progress down the side of my calf with numbness and tingling that extends into my toes.  Mri done of my lumbar spine results as followsL4-L5 level there is degenerative disc disease.  A large  broad based disc herniation is seen extending from the midline to the left side causing marked compression of the thecal sac and marked nerve root compression left.  It also extends to the right  side with mild nerve compression.  There is moderate to severe foraminal narrowing on the left.  L5-S1 level there is diffuse disc bulging.

Why are my treatment options

[namnam46]

Hi Jackie.  :)

First let me welcome you to the Back & Neck Community here on MH ( MedHelp ).

As remar said, I hope you will post this on the PM ( Pain Management ) Forum as well as here.  I think they will be very helpful with ideas on pain control.

From your MRI you definitely have arthritis along with other problems such as your bulging discs as well as the herniations. Bless your heart.  I, too, have DDD (Degenerative Disc Disease) along with the bulging discs as well as other things going g on with my entire spine from Cervical, Thoracic to the Lumbar spine.  Which Doctor just ordered the MRI?  Your PCP (Primary Care Physician) or a PM ( Pain Management )  Doctor or a Rheumatologist, etc. ?   It sounds like you're on the right track as you've had your MRI.  Who do you see next?  Unfortunately, there's no cure for what you are facing but there is help with the pain.  IF you don't already have a PM Doctor you will need one.  He/She will be able to help you control your pain.  Whether it's thru RFA (Radio Frequency Ablation), which burns the nerves in the area and gets rid of the pain as it can't send signals anymore.  It's not as bad as it sounds as I've had it done twice in the past 5 years. Mine has lasted between 20 and 24 mo the both times.  It's given me COMPLETE freedom from the pain m (in that area).  It's amazing. Then there are the steroid shots that give relief to some patients, also. Of course, there is medication, also, that can take care of most of your pain.  It all depends on what you and your Doctor feel is best for you.  You need to know that many Doctor's have become leary of giving out pain medication as they are "concerned" about there licenses being revoked by the DEA in their fight against drug abuse.  UNFORTUNATELY, that has carried over into the CP (Chronic Pain)  Patients and is affecting our quality of life. I'm one of the fortunate ones that has a Pain Doctor that gives the pain medication that his patients need (as long as their tests prove that they need it).  You have the documentation that proves your pain. If you can, it would be wise to get an MRI of your Thoracic (middle spine) and Cervical (neck) areas.

I wish you the very best and will be looking forward to your answers to the questions I asked.   :)        ........         Sherry   :)

[remar]

Are you seeing a spine specialist? If not, I recommend you do because they can let you know what your options are. I wish I could be of more help to you. I'm so sorry you're going through this. After seeing your MRI results it's clear why you're having leg pain.
We have wonderful and very knowledgeable members here so hopefully one of them can better help you.
We have a pain forum so you may want to post your question there too. It seems like that forum is more active then this forum at times.