Could this be my back acting up again???

[Poobah]

My history.

7 yrs ago diagnosed with a herniated L5/S1
Surgery partial discotomy

Last yr.  Low back pain, legs giving out as I walk or bend over.

Then, no more back pain, but started having lower leg pain from knee down.  Hurts when walking after a very short periof of time.  Feel aching in my shin and in the back of leg behind the knee.

Today I have the same pain, but cannot bend my knee all the way, there is numbness in the bottom of my heel (the whole heel) and tingling.  Now it has gotten to the point where my lower leg aches even at night when I am "trying" to sleep.

My GP doesn't think this has to do with my previous back problems because he did a physical exam on me and my leg moved without pain.  But he did not move my knee.  Just the leg up and down, side-ways.  So he ordered an MRI on ONLY my knee.

I know what sciatic pain it like.  It goes from the buttocks down to the foot.  But mine does not start in the buttocks, but in the knee.  At the same time I get the impression that it could be my back.  When I lift something a little heavier than "I should" I can feel the tingling in my foot.  

Can you please let me know what you think this could be?  Could it be my old back problem haunting me again?  Even if my pain does not start at the buttocks?

Thanks!

[Jrsygrl109]

sciatic pain can sometimes "skip" areas - prior to my l4-5 fusion I had pain in my back, no pain in my butt, pain in my thigh, no pain in my calf, and it felt like a lead weight on top of my foot.  I would try to get a back mri done in light that you had prior surgical intervention

[Poobah]

Thanks for your answer.  I think what you said about pain "skipping" areas answers my question perfectly.

I am having a rough time sleeping tonight.  Can't find any comfortable position.  

Btw, I have been trying to get my Dr to give me an MRI on my back for a year now.  For some reason he keeps putting off. I have an appt with a rheumatologist next month and hopefully she will take me seriously.  I shouldn't even be going to her, but am doing so only because my husband needs to go there also.  What I need is to go to an Ortho or Neuro, not Rhemo!

Thanks again.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Thanks for writing in.
Your symptoms can be due to pinched nerve in the knee region. It can also be due to peroneal nerve dysfunction. Peroneal nerve is a branch of sciatic nerve which supplies the back of leg and foot and toes. Another nerve that be involved is the femoral nerve which supplies the muscles that help straighten the legs. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) also cannot be ruled out.
Please discuss these possibilities with your treating doctor. Take care!