What Causes Pain In Lower Back Radiating To Leg?

Posted on Sun, 15 Nov 2015

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

Sun, 15 Nov 2015 Answered on

Mon, 7 Dec 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : For the last 4 days I have been in terrible pain that I couldn't even stand on my right leg the pain was constant & pins & needles right down from my lower back to my toes the pain is so aggressive my right arm was numb too all on my right side couldn't sit. stand lay down nothing eased the pain not even 4 endone
Went to the hospital but thought the pain was coming from my bad right knee but now realize its from my back also have pain on right flank this pain comes & goes similar to a hernia as I have a hernia but this pain is more towards the middle of my stomach on right side

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (42 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Spine MRI is necessary.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

Your symptoms are clearly caused by nerve compression in the spine. The nerve which is compressed, travels down to the leg. Its very typical to have pins and needles along with the pain when the nerve is affected. For sure it is not from the knee.
Hernia can give some additional pain for sure, but this pain does not travel to the leg. Spine problem can give lower abdominal pain especially that is is located on the same side that the leg pain is.

I suggest you to consult neurosurgeon or orthopedist. Spine MRI has to be done and surgery should be considered.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

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