Burning pain and numbness right foot and leg

  I am a 54 year old male. About 4 years ago the bottom of my right foot started burning.A Podiatrist prescribed orthotics,because x-ray showed a bone spur on the heel.As it turned out,there was never a bone-spur to begin with.Subsequent x-ray's showed nothing.During the time that I wore the orthotics,the burning became very painful and began to spread up my leg into the groin area.Visits to neurologists revealed that my right leg[from my toes to approximatly my navel,around my right side to about the middle of back]was NUMB as well.MRI's of lumbar,thoracic spine[with and without contrast]revealed some S-1,L-5 degeneration.MRI's also showed a lipoma in the left side of my RIGHT FOOT.This lipoma was removed with NO relief of burning pain.Neurologist then did a L5-S1 discectomy.BURNING PAIN AND NUMBNESS STILL CONTINUED!Addional[repeat MRI's-and EMG's as well]tests from SCRIPPS UCLA and UCLA MEDICAL CENTER CAME TO TWO[2] DIFFERENT CONCLUSIONS.Scripps says T8-T9 and UCLA says Y7-T8.I am going for a third opinion,next week.I am in un-believable PAIN,PAIN,PAIN!!Ultram helps about 50% of time to reduce pain about 50%.Does anybody out there have these combined symtoms (symptoms)???????LAYMAN OR PROFFESSIONAL,I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP.        
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Dear Vince:
If the numbness that you have extends as far proximally as your navel on the right side, a localization of the lesion in the spinal cord at the mid or lower thoracic level is usually implied. This fits with the opinions you have received from the doctors at Scripps and UCLA (which may or may not be differing significantly). Lesions at these thoracic levels are not very common. It is also quite unusual to have such intractible pain from a lesion in or around the spinal cord. From your description it does appear the the pain is not form a local foot problem, nor from compromise of one of the lumbosacral roots.
It is difficult for me to comment any further without having the opportunity to examine you, and go over all your records. The institutions that you have visited are very reputed ones and I am sure that neurologists there would be able to give you the best possible advice and treatment.
Good luck!