How to treat my lower back pain because of which I could not straighten my leg?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 21-year-old and have severe pain going from my lower back down my left butt cheek and the back of my thigh all the way down to my foot. Sometimes it goes numb. I have tried the tablet of Ibuprofen, stretching, steroid shots, Lidocaine creams, heat compress, ice packs, and hydros. Nothing has helped. It is to the point where I cannot straighten out my leg without severe pain and even sitting hurts. It is affecting my daily tasks. I have been to two different doctors and they just ask me to take Ibuprofen and do stretching. Kindly suggest.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

You are having a slip disc issue, where one of the nerves is getting compressed at the lumbar spine. These nerves start from the brain, travel down the spinal cord, and then exit from a narrow canal to further continue to travel down to the feet. The possible reasons for nerve compression at the spinal cord level include-

1) High BMI (body max index) level.

2) Poor muscular stature around the spine.

Treatment -

Modify your lifestyle. Support your back with the help of a lumbosacral belt. Note the threshold level of pain during sitting, standing, and walking. For example, if you can sit for five minutes, then consciously stand for a few seconds within three minutes. Do not sit on a bed in any way. Always sit on a chair with complete back from shoulder to back rested. If possible try getting an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan for the back. I hope this helps you.

Thank you.