Lately I have pain running from the small of my back down my left leg to my foot especially when my bowel is full in the morning. In 2006 I had surgery on my back ((X-stop at L4-L-5). I had an x-ray done recently and all looked well to the doctor. What is going on? Arthritis?
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Bowel & Leg Nerve
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Your X-stop procedure was likely done for lumbar stenosis, the result of a variety of factors including arthritic bone. It is possible that the stenosis is now affecting you again as either the disc space has narrowed and/or more bone has built up. This is likely if your symptoms are worse when standing up straight or slightly extending your low back.
Your symptoms are suspicious for a herniated disc. Increased pain with bowel movements is a common occurrence with herniated disc of the lumbar spine. The X-stop is a type of fusion device. If your anatomy is consistent with the most common presentation of a lumbar anatomy, you will have one spinal motion segment below the L4/5 level. This is the L5/S1 level. The exiting nerve root at this level would be the L5 nerve root. A disc herniation at this level may cause compression of the L5 or the S1 level immediately below. Either one of these can cause radiation of pain to the foot. An x-ray is not likely to show a herniated disc. A Lumbar MRI with contrast would be the test most likely to show a herniated disc. Of course, there are other possible causes need to be ruled out by your physician.
I come from a very different treatment perspective despite agreeing with the other docs. Yes, the supplements, homeopathy, and yoga are definitely up there and will be of great help with your condition, however, there are also other non-invasive interventions that I would apply to your situation. My techniques take into consideration any sort of stressors or emotional issues that may be impacting and influencing your pain. Therefore, we will take a look at how the mind affects the body and how the body responds to various insults throughout life. I am not so hung up on your diagnosis, but rather more concerned about how life experiences have manifested your ailments and then correcting or pulling out the pain or stress that you have been carrying around throughout your life. These interventions also work toward keeping healthier in the future.
Thank you all. I will get an MRI.
Sounds like you still have a disc herniation in your lower back which is pressing on a nerve causing sciatic referralDown the left lower extremity. An x-ray alone would not be sufficient to diagnose this. Rather, you would need to have an MRI. If you have not already done so recently, this would certainly be the next step. Naturally there may be other things happening as well, however, this would be the most likely.
You may be experiencing a pinched nerve or sciatica. Remedies to treat your symptoms are supplements such as silica, and niacin. Homeopathic remedies which may offer pain relief include arnica and rhus tox. If discomfort persists please make an appointment to see a neurologist. Yoga may also be helpful in stretching the spine and allowing the muscles to relax..
.I would suggest finding a good chiropractor.
It is very common to have problems to have relapses of low back pain and radiating pain after back surgery.
Back surgery has a very low success rate and the ones that do get relief it is often short lived. The pain you are describing is most probably the sciatic nerve that is being pinched at the spine causing the radiating pain down the leg. The most common cause is a either a bulging or herniated disc which would be agravated when the bowell is full.
If you can find a Chiropractor who does spinal decompression, this treatment is very successful with this type of issue and can reduce the scar tissue from the surgery
Good Luck
Back surgery has a very low success rate and the ones that do get relief it is often short lived. The pain you are describing is most probably the sciatic nerve that is being pinched at the spine causing the radiating pain down the leg. The most common cause is a either a bulging or herniated disc which would be agravated when the bowell is full.
If you can find a Chiropractor who does spinal decompression, this treatment is very successful with this type of issue and can reduce the scar tissue from the surgery
Good Luck