lower back pain with shooting pains in butt and front of legs

I have hurt my back some how. I am hurting in my lower back and have shooting pains in my butt and the front of my legs. It makes it worse when I sit down. Last week I couldn't even move or turn over in the bed. My lower back is still hurting, but not as bad as it was. Now all of my pain is in my legs and bottom. I have not fallen or anything, so I don't know exactly what is going on. This is the second week I have hurt. A long time ago I got kicked very hard in my tail bone, and then a few years later, I was sleding in the snow and fell off of the sled and fell down onto a small tree stump (and of course it was right on my tail bone!) Could this pain be coming from those injuries so long ago? I am 37 years old, and feel like I am in good health. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what may be wrong with me?? Thanks for any information you can give me.

[idesofmarch]

Yes, past injuries tend to develope arthritis later in life. You may want to think really hard about what you were doing right before the pain started, what was the weather like and see a doctor if it gets worse or lasts over 3 weeks.  Try sitting on a donut pillow(can get them at walmart or drug store) to see if it aleviates the pain and helps the tailbone to heal. Could also try pain releaving creams, capizine(sp?) is the best because the longer you use it the better it works.  Have you tried alternating ice and heat? do the ice for 10 mins. wait for your body to return to normal temp. then do a heating pad for about 10 mins. Redo every hour unless it feels worse. If you experience numbness,pins & needles, urine or other loss of control see a doctor A.S.A.P  Hope this all helps. Include ibeprophen (advil) if you can take that. It helps with inflamation (inflammation) even if it doesn't help the pain much.

[TLynn]

Are you by any chance taking a statin for lowering cholesterol?  The statins can attack the muscle tissues and cause pain.  I had the same pain, so bad I was not able to walk normally.  It started in my lower back and went around my hips into my front and inner thighs.  After stopping the statin I was back to normal within a short time.   Good luck

[wyldwoman]

I have had problems with pain down my butt and legs Off and on for about a year then it continued more all summer '06 and fall. I couldnt play volleyball, walk for exercise or stand for very long.  Finally went to my physician and he sent me to a neurologist and had a MRI and found I have a big herniation in my L4and L5 disc area. I would recommend seeing your physician about it and go from there. Waiting to long can cause bigger problems later. I wish I would have done it sooner. Could be arthritis like they told me with an X-ray. I insisted on an MRI and thats when the herniation was found. Good luck

[SHER]

I'M NEW TO MEDHELP.ORG.  I WAS IN A TERRIBLE HEAD-ON COLLISION, (60 mph), BY A DRUNK DRIVER. I HAVE SUFFERED EVER SINCE.  I HAD TWO FRACTURED RIBS, A FRACTURED TAILBONE TOWARDS THE RIGHT SIDE, AND HEAD/FACE INJURIES. IT TOOK YEARS FOR SOME OF MY SYMTOMS (symptoms) TO SHOW UP. THE ACCIDENT WAS IN MAY OF 97.  
I HAVE TERRIBLE LOWER BACK PAIN ALL THE TIME.  DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER IT CHANGES.  HOWEVER, OVER THE LAST 2-3 YRS, THE PAIN HAS GOTTON REALLY BAD.  I NOTICE THAT I CAN BE ON MY FEET THRU OUT THE DAY AND THEN WHEN I LAY DOWN IN BED, (IN A VERTICLE POSITION), STRAIGHT, I FEEL THE PAIN INCREASE, AND THEN I HAVE A BURNING SESANTION THAT TRAVELS THRU OUT MY LOW BACK AREA.  I ALSO HAVE RIGHT LEG PAIN, AND SOMETIMES I CANNOT STAND VERY LONG ON THAT LEG, I HAVE TO SIT DOWN.  I HAVE RIGHT SHOULDER, ARM, AND NECK PAIN, TERRIBLE. I SUFFER FROM MIAGRAINS, WHEN I GET THEM, I HAVE TO JUST GO HOME AND LAY IN A DARK ROOM, AND TRY TO SLEEP THEM OFF.  THIS ACCIDENT HAS CAUSED ALL SORTS OF ISSUES.  RIGHT AFTER THE ACCIDENT I SEEN A KENISIAOLOGIST, BUT IT WAS STILL REALLY EARLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I WAS SEEING HIM, BECAUSE I HAD JAW PROBLEMS, AFTER THE AIRBAG HIT ME IN THE FACE, SO I WAS SENT TO HIM, SINCE MY JAW WAS OUT OF PLACE, HE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE TO HELP WITH THE REMAINDER PARTS OF MY BODY, I GUESS MY JAW BEING DISLOCATED, WOULD CAUSE OTHER PARTS OF MY BODY TO BE "OFF SET". I WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE A METAL PLATE PUT IN MY JAW, BUT OPTED NOT TO GO THRU SURGERY, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO LOOSE FEELING IN MY LIPS, AND NOT MOVE MY EYEBROWS, SO I JUST LEFT IT. AS THE YRS HAVE GONE BY, MY BACK IS REALLY BAD, IF I TRY TO BEND OVER, MY LOWER BACK TENDS TO GIVE OUT, AND IT'S LIKE A "SHARP PAIN" ACROSS THE BOTTOM. IT'S REALLY BAD!! I HAVE A HARD TIME BENDING OVER TO BRUSH MY TEETH, I HAVE TO USALLY SIT DOWN. MY LOW BACK DOESN'T REALLY HAVE ANY SUPPORT.  I WENT TO A SPINAL SPECIALIST IN THE SUMMER OF 2004, AND HAD MRI DONE ON MY LOW BACK, AND ALSO MY RIGHT KNEE, (AS I HAVE A BAD RIGHT KNEE AS WELL), THE TEST CAME BACK THAT I HAVE DEGENITIVE SPINAL CONDITION, HOWEVER, I KNOW THAT THE DOCTORS DON'T ALWAYS WANT TO ADMIT, REALLY  THAT IT COUDL BE FROM THE ACCIDENT, THEY ARE AFRAID OF BEING INVOLVED IN A LAWSIT AGAINST THE OTHER PERSON. HOWEVER, THE DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT A "ROD" IN MY BACK MIGHT BE MY ONLY OPTION, I HAVE OPTED TO STAY AS FAR AWAY FROM THAT AS POSSIBLE. AFRAID. ALSO I HAD BEEN GOING TO A CHIROPRATOT TO HAVE A "GAS" PREASSURE RELEASED FROM MY NECK, BECAUSE SINCE THE ACCIDENT, I SUFFER TERRIBLE MIAGRAINS, AND SINCE ALL THIS, MY RIGHT SHOULDER AND ARM ARE USALLY IN PAIN. MY RIGHT ARM IS VERY WEAK.  
WHAT MADE ME FINALLY LOOK INTO OTHERS W/SIMILAR SYMTOMS (symptoms), IS THAT YESTEDAY MORNING, I COULD HADLEY LIFT MY RIGHT ARM, TO MY MOUSE FOR TH ECOMPUTE, IT FELT REALLLLLLY HEAVY, THEN TODAY, I HAVE A --VERRRRRY SOAR-- TRICEP MUSCLE, THAT IS VERY SOAR TO THE TOUCH. VERRRRY SOAR. ONE OF MY DOC'S DID TELL ME A FEW YEARS AGO, THAT THE MUSCEL COULD DIE, IF IT'S NOT USED. WELL IT HAS GOTTON WEAKER OVER THE LAST 3 YRS.  I DO TRY TO WEAR SUPPORTING SHOES FOR MY BACK, WHEN I CAN, BUT I DO WORK IN A PROFESSIONAL OFFICE, AND DO HAVE MEETINGS, SO I CANT ALWAYS WEAR SUPPORTIVE SHOES.  THE ONE ISSUE I HAVE NOT SEE ANYONE ELSE RAISE, IS IM ALSO CONCERNED, ALTHOUGH I SEEM TO ALWAYS BE COLD, MY RIGHT HAD WILL GET EXTREMELY COLD, WHEREAS MY LEFT HAND WILL NOT.  I WONDER IF MY MUSCLE IS REALLY STARTING TO DIE, AND THE CIRCULATION IS JUST THAT POOR? ANY THOUGHTS FROM ANYONE, WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!    

[emmol]

I was at my job and had been doing work where you lift furniture and very heavy things. I started to develop these back pains. I had never had back pains before in my life.They come and go but now there back. it feels like shooting pains in my lower left side of my back down to my leg. like someone is pulling on my muscles.I've been to a doctor and got a MRI but nothing was said. Sometimes i can barely move.Can someone please tell me why it still comes and goes even though i have stopped that work a while ago?

[Torchy]

Your problem sounds like Sciatica, the symptoms are generally lower back pain with an intense pain in the buttock (mostly the left one)and shooting pains down the sciatic nerves which are long nerves that run down your legs to the ankles. Visit your Chiropractor he will help you and use ibuprofen its an anti infammitory to help with the nerve.It generally can ease very quickly with treatment.

[Lilcntrydarling]

I had an accident at work 2 years ago and have been in serious pain ever since. The pain is mainly in my back but has traveled down my butt and legs, a month and a half ago I went to the doctor as the pain went into my arm (so severe I did not sleep for more than 2 hours a night for a month) I still have loss of feeling from the middle of my forearm and my thumb, pointer finger and third finger. It was so severe I could not move it at all. Dr. took an xray and said nothing is broken so go home basicly. I can not lay on my back as I can't straighten my back. I now walk slow as the pain gets so bad, have had numerous test and nothing showed up, I also get swelling in knees, and sharp almost poker burning pain that shoots up my spine alot. Any clues?

[mike1105]

this may be as simple as having tight hip flexor muscles. I suggest you get men's health magazine w MAtt elinart on the cover and do the hipe flexor stetches--there's a whole page of them. they are great.

[maddmilly]

I too had an accident at work, going on a year now. My doctor to walked out on me after I demanded x-ray.
I found another doctor after that and demanded to be sent to a specialist who took ANOTHER x-ray, Bone Scan and an MRI.
Who also told me nothing was wrong and that I was able to go back to work.
Finally after have going through 6 Doctors I found one who listened and is sending me to a neuroligist.
I had to look all over the net, find out what I had and what kinds of tests could be done. I have not seen him yet but when I do I will demand a CT scan of the full spinal colum along with an EMG test.
I know for sure one of these tests will show somthing.
I told my doctor if it is not somthing simple to find as Siatica then it has to be somthing more severe And I want answers NOW.
I phoned Human Rights Board and they gave me a place to report the doctors.
HINT.
If you are hurt at work, doctors for some reason are hard to find to help you when it comes to a Workers Compensation Case.
You have rights
Find the right doctor, get these tests done. Go back to WCB. with proof. Good Luck!

[bombay]

I strained my back while bent over in a crawl space and pulling a big christmas tree box - it was sore but I could function. A few days later I thought I was feeling better and went ice skating - Big mistake - I twisted  sideways and then felt something odd - then I could not pick up my leg.
I went home with pain and went to bed. I could barely get up the next day but I did - barely - by day 2 it took me 5 hrs to get up with help and a elastic belt tied as tight as possible .
I did this 5 weeks ago - I tried, rest, robaxacet, arnica, traumeel - even bowen therapy - it seems to be getting better until yesterday when I started getting severe pins and needles and burning in my legs - my shins feel like I ran a marathon and I had this horrible pulsing and pressure in my groin - today it is a bit better but I just don't know what to do next? Do I go to a Chiropractor - ?  

[smp6642]

I have severe pain as described above, left upper buttocks up to the hip wrapping around the left hip and down left mid, to inner leg, to the knee.  The pain radiates in the knee(old softball injury) and back up.  I deal with this every day and painfully at night.  I can't sleep on my left side very long its hurts so bad.  It's like the nerve is screeming at me. The pain hindered my walking and moving around.  I began to go to the Chiropractor. Getting adjustments, is the only thing that gives me relief.  I take liquid gel aleve if the pain becomes to much. Surgery is out of the question, I'm 42 and a very busy mom and wife and I work full time like everyone else does.  Anyway, if there are other options or help. I would love to know about it.Thank, SM

[cazzy62]

I suffer O/A in most of my spine, ihave pain in my right buttock and is running down my leg, i'm finding it hard to walk and balance this i've been told is all due to my back, the disc bulges i have are effecting a nerve leading to these horrible pains the worse pains are in the hips, also effect the feet ankles legs, all down to o/a. i will be having an epidural and hope it's gives me some help. my mane worry is becoming crippled. doe's anyone else have the same problem but have been helped for the better

[Princessgal]

I hurt my back in September 2009 and was told it was Siatica. 6 weeks of severe pain in bed. Pain pills did  not help. I thought I was fine but in January I woke up on a Saturday and couldn't walk or move due to the intense pain. The ER found 2 herniated disks. So then 6 weeks of physical therepy. I was well until May, just 2 weeks ago, when I found I suddenly had severe pain and couldn't bend. I've had an MRI and a CT scan and both came both normal. I still have pain. What's wrong? Some one told me maybe Fibromyalgia due to other problems. Can anyone relate?

[angora250]

I have been suffering from Buttock and tailboan pain for 5 months.  It has caused me thousands of dollars and no relief:  chiropractors, pain management clinics, physical therapy, doctor after doctor after doctor, MRI, Xrays...............I researched it on the internet and it is the SIDE EFFECTS of STATIN drugs.  

The damned doctors must know this.  Why do they continue to prescribe them?????because the drug companies supplement their income?  I don't know, but I am still in pain.  I am trying to find a cure but there doesn't seem to be one.

[theoldman528]

i have had an injury in my back lifiting. it is now in my upper left buttocks and left leg. it only starts bothering me after i lay down. it feels like someone is putting foil on a tooth filling and the pain is contracting. WHAT IS THIS and WILL THEY BE ABLE TO SEE THIS ON A MRI

[rosalyn943]

3 years ago i was running and i felt a nerve on my left leg right where the knee bends area pop, i fell to the ground and my son had to carry me inside the house,,i jus had surgery 2 months ago to het my tubes tied and some cysts on my ovaries plus he found a bit of indimitriosis,,,well now im experiencing my left leg hurting really bad i cant bend down,, my right leg is ok but the pain from my left leg shoots up all the way to my hip and lower back making my back hurt so much. my doctor insist its my indimitriosis but i don think it is, nothing else hurts jus my left leg especially wen im walking all day,,i am a server/.waitress so i put alot of strain on my back and legs,,what do you guys think..i dont want to take pills for my indimitriosis or have anymore surgery;s if its just a pinched nerve.

[raziamashid]

My wife hurt her back couple of years back and lately she is loosing her hip muscle really fast to a point that her bones are very exposed in comparison to other people. it has reached to a point she has constant pain and whether sitting on sleeping on the back or on the side she can barely stay in the same position for 20 minutes or else it hurts like continuous needle pinches. Anyone has any ide or suggestions?

[sfgreen]

you just described me, but I have not been told this was my whole problem,. Nor been really helped much. I am in alot of pain most days. And have been for many years, I am 50 yrs old now.

[scissors38]

I fell and hit my back at the base, 3 years ago, since then I have suffered bad back aches on and off, I can't sit up straight long before it aches and feels saw and walking for more than 20 mins causes me back pain for the rest of that day, it's always slightly there but worsened by the fore mentioned, any advise as its got to the stage of making me feel sick :( will also say it's terrible during periods.