Suggest Treatment For Severe Leg Pain

Posted on Thu, 12 May 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 12 May 2016 Answered on

Mon, 20 Jun 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : My husband has had severe right leg pain for the past 5 weeks. Been to ER....x-rays were negative...Rx for pain meds and PT. PT did not help. Saw PCP, possible statin reaction although he's been taking these for years. Cannot walk, sleep, etc without severe pain, now uses a cane to help. No lower back pain associated with this. Any suggestions?

Answered by Dr. V. N. S. Parinam (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
possible disc degeneration coupled with nerve compression

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

THere is a high possibility that the disc is degenerated completely, lost the turgor and ability to place the two vertebrae intact. As they lose the water in them the become dessicated and split. They prolapse frequently and compress the nerve that comes out of the spinal segment. One sided pains always need evaluation with MRI. Xray may be normal for that age but things are more clear on MRI.
I suggest to get an MRI and find the diagnosis first.
I am not sure if a treatment other than PT, pain medicine exists at this age even if a diagnosis is made. His fitness for surgery is a question.
However the next investigation to undergo a proper diagnosis is through a spine surgeon and MRI of the spine.
There are other possibilities including osteopenia, porosis of the bone, hidden fracture but first things are first

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar