Is An MRI Of The Spine Required For Severe Pain In The Limbs?

Posted on Mon, 26 Jun 2023

Question: A couple of years ago I slipped in my boat and apparently slipped a disc, I started to have spasms right after and my daughter is a physical therapist and was able to work through the spasms and maybe realigned my spine. Every since then, I have a bulge on my spine to the left of the area that comes and goes, making walking for any extended amount of time painful to the point my lower back goes numb, I can sit and the numbness and pain go away, but lately, even sitting is starting to hurt, shooting pain down my legs now, and today, I got burning pain on the right side of the affected area after an extended walk. Is there anything you can recommend?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:

MRI, NCS study to consider

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

Pain at rest, shooting pain in both lower limbs and burning sensation in the affected area suggest that MRI of the spine, in particular, the lumbosacral spine would be required after a neurological examination of the lower limbs and spine.

Bowel and bladder function should be determined to be normal. Spine compression should be looked for and if suspected then a dexamethasone shot prior to further testing should be advised.

If the MRI is normal or if there are no progressive changes compared to the previous scan (if it was done earlier) then nerve conduction studies can be the next step.

Hope I have answered your query.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Muhammad Sareer Khalil, General & Family Physician

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee