I'm a 39 yr old male, and need help ASAP. For the past 7 years I've been experiencing a severe, stabbing pain in my left leg. At first, the pain would shoot down my leg from the hip to just below my knee. Nowadays, the pain only occurs in one spot on the outside of my leg about 3 inches above my ankle. Years ago, I was dating a chiropractor and she was convinced that I was pinching my sciatic nerve in the Piriformis. I would stretch and pay attention to my movements and the pain occurred sporadically. It didn't matter what position I was in. It would hit randomly and feel like I was being stabbed in the leg with a knife or needle. I would go months without an episode. But when it hit, it takes me down literally. The pain is so severe, that I would drop to the floor. Now, in recent weeks I've been experiencing this shooting pain, along with another symptom. I awoke one morning about two weeks ago and I could not touch my lower leg without searing pain. Its very similar to the stabbing pain, but I'm able to trigger it by just touching my skin. It must be nerve related. There is a slight lump in my leg (3" above my ankle, on the outside of leg). This lump is so tender to touch. It sends a lightning bolt pain through my leg. My touch, running water, and even the sheets on my bed are enough to trigger it. It's so darn painful. So I spent a few days doing absolutely nothing. I lay flat on my back a lot, applying ice packs to my lower back and buttock area. I awoke one morning and that localized pain was gone. However, I began to get that stabbing pain again (identical to the shooting pains I'm used to experiencing). Just a few days ago, I just lost hope in being able to heal myself. I went to a neurologist who performed an EMG test, MRI and Xray on my leg. I am currently awaiting the results. The reason I'm posting is to see if anybody has come across symptoms like this. Can this be a herniated disc? Yes, I do experience lower back pain. But this is more of a gnawing, dull achy pain. I've been experiencing this for years, and have just learned to live with it. Lately, I'm feeling a gnawing, dull pain in my left buttock area too. Again, these pains are nothing compared to that shooting/stabbing pain in my lower leg. I sit here and wonder when the next shooting pain will occur. It could be days, or hours. I just can't stand this random appearance of this pain. It's taken such a toll on my life. If I can't find relief, I'd consider ending it all. I can't live with this pain anymore. Just imagine some little troll following you around all day and sporadically sticks you with a burning hot knife. The pain is so intense, I choke up a bit, and hold back the tears. I'm done with this. I must find relief or just check out, period. I hate to talk in such a morbid way, but I'm at the end of my rope here. I anxiously await the test results. Now, I ask you pro's out there....could this just be an extreme case of Piriformis Syndrome? Could I have a bulging or herniated disc? Could it be both? I want to do Yoga and isolated stretching exercises, but I can't. The pain hits when I try. And they say stretching that causes pain, should be stopped asap. I take NSAIDs, but they don't curb the stabbing pain. They may reduce the number of episodes I get, but the actual pain does not diminish. Please, anybody who may have heard of such symptoms respond. I'll give it another few weeks. If I can't get relief, I'm outta here. See ya on the other side.