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Having Chronic Back Pain Even After Surgeries. Reason For Severe Pain Across Butt And Legs?
I have chronic back pain. I had 2 back surgeries & now scar tissue is pushing on my L4/L5 & strangulating my L5 nerve root. This is my norm.......Charlie horse in lower left calf & if I over do it......pain shoots across my butt & down both legs. We have had snow here everyday for the past 5 days.......thought that is why my left leg is worse. But someone told me that maybe I have a blood clot as I can hardly put my body weight on my left leg? What do u think? Should I go to emergency & have it checked?
Thu, 9 Jan 2014
Hi, thanks for writing to HCM.
From the given description, a blood clot in your leg is very unlikely and your charlie horse symptoms may be attributed to the L5 nerve root compression. To rule out the presence of Deep vein thrombosis (blood clot), a doppler ultrasound examination of the involved leg is needed.
Neuromodulatory/Neuropathic painkiller medications like Methylcobalamine, Pregabalin or Gabapentin might be helpful in decreasing your shooting pain down the leg.
If you don't find any response with the medications, then Epidural steroid injections may provide you relief from your symptoms.
Consult an orthopedic/spine surgeon for further management.
Hope this information is helpful. Good day
From the given description, a blood clot in your leg is very unlikely and your charlie horse symptoms may be attributed to the L5 nerve root compression. To rule out the presence of Deep vein thrombosis (blood clot), a doppler ultrasound examination of the involved leg is needed.
Neuromodulatory/Neuropathic painkiller medications like Methylcobalamine, Pregabalin or Gabapentin might be helpful in decreasing your shooting pain down the leg.
If you don't find any response with the medications, then Epidural steroid injections may provide you relief from your symptoms.
Consult an orthopedic/spine surgeon for further management.
Hope this information is helpful. Good day
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