Legs give out all the time....why?

I hurt my back in 2008.  My leg pain is gone for the most part.  I still have back pain.  But why do my legs continually just give out?

[Christopher R Newey, DO]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with a doctor.

Without the ability to examine and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

Leg pain from the back may be a form of a process called radiculopathy, which is an impingement of a nerve as it leaves the spinal cord in the vertebra (i.e., foramen). The compression could be due to arthritis of the spine or due to a herniated disc or other lesions. The symptoms include pain at the level of the problem (i.e. neck or back etc) and pain that may radiate down the arm or leg (depending on where the problem is). In more advanced cases, muscle weakness or sensory symptoms such as tingling or numbness may occur. A radiculopathy is often diagnosed based on history, physical examination, and MRI of the spine.

I am not sure of the exact details of your weakness or previous pain so it is difficult to provide you with more detail information. However, if you have a history of radiculopathy, which sounds like you might, you should discuss your current situation with your primary physician. You may benefit from a referral to a neurologist for an EMG/NCS and/or spine imaging. These can be performed at most local neurology offices.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.