back & groin problem

I am writing regarding my fathers back problem, he has had it for years and tried many different things but things seem to be getting worse. He cannot sleep due to the pain so it is driving him mad! He has an x-ray a few years ago which showed a lot of degenerative change in the lumbosacral disc, less so at the L4/5 disc and more so again at the proximal lumbar spine. The L4/5 are very arthritic. The strange thing that has stumped many people he has seen is that he gets a continual pain from the back to the groin - maybe there is a trapped nerve in the back problem area? He has seen a few people in and around Shropshire but we feel that we should look further afield to see other specialist. He has had facet injections but this didn't work. Does anyone have a similar problem or know of a specialist that may be able to help? Thank you, Michelle

[debs59]

Hi Michelleallmark, reading about your dad sounds a bit like I was before my surgery, I used to get terrible pain in my right hip and groin area and went to the drs expecting her to say it was arthritis of my hip, however she proceeded to lift my right leg from a laying down position and the pain shot up the back of my leg and into my back so she said it was definately a problem with L4/L5 of the back and probably squeezed nerves. I then had an MRI which showed what she suspected and the L5 had slipped forward compressing nerves and hence causing the groin and hip pain. I had fusion surgery 6weeks ago and am coming along ok, get quite a lot of pain in the bone graft site still but am told that can take long time to come right, I can however now get up stairs and before the surgery I couldnt put any weight through my right leg due to the groin pain so theres an improvement already. I really think your dad should have an MRI scan to determine if any nerves are involved and the longer you leave it the more permanent damage is done to the nerves, wish him good luck and would be interested in hearing what the outcome of the scan is if he gets one done.

[badback111]

I had an L4-5 laminectomy in 2005 and a T7-8 3 weeks ago.I had the groin pain offf and on before the most recent surgery,but for the last week or so it has been terrible.The neurosurgeon tells me it is referred pain.Neither surgery has done much for me,but aggravate the groin problem and spasms that radiate from the back to the front including the groin area.I will post if there is any relief or a better answer from the doc,but in the meantime tell your dad to hang in there(no pun intended),ice packs have worked for me.Good luck....