Hi Awareofyou,
If you are able to cause a shooting pain in your leg by pressing on the area in your hip between the backbone and the hip joint
(while bending forward) then Piriformis syndrome is a logical
possibility. If there is an inpingement where the sciatic nerve passes through the muscle area it can cause your symptoms.
Usually it is not constant, but an injury to the area could entrap the nerve causing more chronic results.
Avoid surgery until the easier stuff is ruled out for sure.
You will notice that the docs want you to be in real dificulty before they would risk the surgery... They want you to beg for it and then NOT sue when thing don't improve.
Here is a link that explains further
Good luck...
Ron
http://www.drmirkin.com/fitness/f230.html
Something very new....
http://www.drmirkin.com/joints/9313.html
I would like to know more about why surgery for a herniated lumbar disc is or is not a good choice. I have a herniated disc at the s-1 l-5 level. I have suffered with sciatica and numbness in the left leg for 6 months. 3 epidural injections solved the problem for about 2 months, but now the problem is back, and I need to do something definitive in order to get back to work. A discectomy has been recommended by a spine specialist. The disc is bulging, not totally disconnected. What are the odds of a complete recovery (no recurrent problems) after this procedure? Can it make the problem worse? Any new treatments on the horizon?Also, has anyone had experience with the Texas Back Institute? Is this a good place? Thanks.
Regardless the outcome of your MRI DO Not pursue surgical means if its spinal!
Do not Undergo a partial or total diskectomy or Fusion ! your Way to young to become handicapped by that .
IF you think the surgerty will help the Pain think three times Becasue it will not ! Sciatica 2 ways to go right and wrong !
IF you were active get active again. NO BS about how pain full. NO BS about no time NO BS DO IT !
as you WIMP OUT yopu get worse not better Rest will make it deteriorate and require surgical removal.
exercoise wil strengthen the muscles around the problem area ! that will help it feel better . exercise is now a WAY OF LIFE not keep fit thing !
I mean heavey work outs in the weight room of your Gym. Leg presses till eternity freezes over. bicyclking will yeild a new dimension in pain relief. 20 to 100 km per day is your target for a few days a week.
Whats my reason for this reply !
11987 and 1988 I had diskectomies on L45/l5s1 2 of them I was active before and rehabed cycling as much as 800 Km per. this was moderated larter on as I went back to work but not stopped week. and workouts in the gym 3 hours a week. This was moderated when I returned to work but not stopped unfortunatly I fell and broke L12345 and That slowed me down but I still do 3 to 400 kms aweelk and work out 2 hours a week in the gym ! PAIN yes! BUT only when I quit the exercising !
try it It beats Surgery. and its Free as well as envigerating.
Best of luck
peter
Back problems can cause buttock pain, side pain, and down the leg pain, but using the word groin usually points to a hip problem-however, not all people describe the parts of the body with the same words. When I say groin it means in front of the body where the leg meets the pubic region? Also, a dimple can also show up when a muscle is cramping? Is it there even when fully relaxed and not bearing weight? You can spend alot of money investigating back problems.
I'm with Erin, your symptoms describe sciatica. It is caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve which runs down into the leg. The cause of pressure can be varied from a Slipped (Prolapsed) disk to muscle tension (Piriformis syndrome) or something less common such as a tumours, bony growths and infections.
It "can" be caused by a partially herniated disc in the L4 or L5 or S1 lumbar regions (depends on where the pain is as to which it is). Suggest going to google.com and doing a search on sciatica. There you'll find remedies for relieving the pain. Would suggest seeing a sportsinjury doctor.
1. The MRI of the lumbar spine is designed to look at the spine, not the hip, so a primary problem in the hip will not show up on the MRI. However, disc disease in the lumbosacral region (lower back) can present with pain in the hip, buttock, groin and leg. So depending on what the MRI shows, it's possible that the problems could be related to disc disease in the lower back. As for the dimple, I'm not exactly sure what it could represent as I have not personally examined you and do not know firsthand what this "dimple" really looks like. If you have significant wasting of the muscles over your hip, I suppose it could look like a dimple. But again, I'd have to see it myself before I could give you an accurate opinion.
2. It may be related to the hip and leg pain, especially if it's on the same side. If it's concerning you, then it's ok to pursue further investigation. But if the hip and leg pain is the primary problem and is affecting your life, then take care of this first.
3.Can't say, would have to see for myself.
4.Consider an EMG to look for any nerve damage and neurological consultation. If that's normal or your physicians suspect a joint problem rather than a neurological problem consider an orthopedic specialist for further evaluation with possibly an MRI of the hip. Talk to your PCP as they have personally examined you and know your case. GOod luck.
Dear Awareofyou,
I'll be interested in reading what the doctor says about this. I know he'll talk a lot about the hip joint, and the possible factors that could account for your pain. I do have one thought about connecting this with your hip dimple, and thought I'd note it here.
It's interesting to me that you notice an indentation (a dimple) in your hip/buttocks. The side of the buttock overlying the hip is the area which is normally filled by the hip stabilizing muscles
I have one word for you...sciatica. That sounds a lot like what you have. I had the same symptoms, more or less...pain in my hip and buttock, sore to the touch some days like a sore muscle would be, pain radiating to behind my knee, into my calf and foot.
It was terrible. I'm 25 myself, and some days walked with a cane. Can you believe that?!?!
I want you to know the following is just what worked for ME, with MY problem. You may have something different going on, but it's worth looking into.
I had an MRI as well, which revealed I had somehow herniated the disc at L5. No clue how I did that, but anyway. The doctor who did my MRI put me on Celebrex, which did nothing but make me vomit. Then we did cortisone injections, which only helped temporarily. He recommended surgery.
I was hesitant, as I'm in good health otherwise and only 25 so I sought the help of a chiropractor. It has been a hard 5 months since when I first experienced pain, but I am 95% better now thanks to his help. No drugs, no surgeries, no nothing...just helping your body heal itself.
Normally I don't take much stock in the so-called "natural" remedies, but depending on the nature of your trouble, you might look into a chiropractor.