referral pain

[gsWI]

I would greatly appreciate if someone could give me some insight to a recent MRI I had done.  The original reason for the MRI was because of left leg pain when sitting or laying.  I also had an epidural steroid injection last week at L4, L5 to see if that would help the leg pain.  The report of the MRI on the spine also revealed a 2cm cyst on the right kidney.  My question is could a cyst of this size cause referral pain in the hip and leg?  Also since I had the epidural steroid inj. 7 days ago now I have had a catch and sharp pain in the right hip when bending over.  The left leg pain has also gotten worse when sitting and laying.  Is it just coincidence that the pain got worse after the injection?  What other tests can be done to get to the source of the left leg pain?  Right now I am looking at possible hip replacement, but I don't want to go ahead with that without knowing for sure that is the source of the pain.
I know I have asked a lot of questions and I really appreciate whoever will try to answer them for me.  Thank you for your help. .

[gsWI]

Thank you for your insight and suggestions.  I have seen two orthopedics that specialize in hip replacement.  Each have their own theories.  I have had hip x-rays and they are both close to bone on bone.  The right hip worse than the left.  So I have been told the right hip would be done first.  However when I went to the second orthopedic he felt and MRI was necessary to rule out the back.  The MRI showed enough degeneration that he said I could try the epidural steroid injection.  It has been 8 days since the injection and the left leg pain is just getting worse at night.  I will be calling the clinic today since I had such a bad night last night.  See what they say.
Thanks again.

[gsWI]

Thank you for your insight and suggestions.  I have seen two orthopedics that specialize in hip replacement.  Each have their own theories.  I have had hip x-rays and they are both close to bone on bone.  The right hip worse than the left.  So I have been told the right hip would be done first.  However when I went to the second orthopedic he felt and MRI was necessary to rule out the back.  The MRI showed enough degeneration that he said I could try the epidural steroid injection.  It has been 8 days since the injection and the left leg pain is just getting worse at night.  I will be calling the clinic today since I had such a bad night last night.  See what they say.
Thanks again.

[Rlawson2765]

I have had 3 kidney cysts up to 4 cm none of which caused leg or hip pain. Flank and back/side pain.

I have had 3 ESI the first of which caused severe abd to back and thigh pain the first  2-3 days none thereafter. The last 2 did not cause any pain.

If you are scheduled for hip replacement, is the pain related to the need for hip replacement? That could be referred pain, also hip frequently refers into the groin area. Could also be because you have altered your posture of walking due to the weak?painful hip. Can't help you with other types of tests. If replacement is indicted go for it, it may well reolse everything, but I'm just a nurse not a MD

[jogruen]

I cannot address the cyst on the kidney but I can tell you that you can definitely have referral pain in your leg if you have a disc problem.  I have had L4-5 fused and I had horrible back pain, leg pain, before the surgery.  I would certainly see an orthopedic surgeon and a neurosurgeon before even considering hip replacement.  That seems very strange to me that they are working on L4-5 and wanting to do a hip replacement.  It is VERY IMPORTANT to find the best surgeon (preferably at a teaching hospital) to do the surgery.  Unfortunately, I had three back surgeries before I found a good surgeon that used a laser and could met away all of the scar tissue and free the nerves that had grown to the bone.  (I didn't know that nerves would grow to the bone, but that is what they said.

Regarding the pain after epidural, I had something similar, or maybe the same thing, my problem was several years ago, they gave me cortisone shots into the bone somewhere in my back and after first one or two, it hurt so much I could hardly walk.  It does wear off and whatever is injured repairs itself.

Best of luck, and let me know how you are.

jogruen