lumbosacral Those With Lumbar Issues...

[rpowell01]

I have had lumbosacral joint disc disease for sometime now. In June of this year I did something to my back than caused me to go to the ER because of pain in my legs (read past post about this). The pain was in my legs then but not really in my back. Now its in the L5-S1 part of the spine (dead center) and if I do any work like washing dishes it hurts really bad. But, what what is bothering me now is I have tingling in my feet and my legs feels really weak and I am having a hard time walking. My legs feel funny. I do get the "sharp, burning " pain on the top and bottom of my feet.

I know people with lumbar usually have pain in their legs but do you guys experience certain days you don't have pain but have numbness and weakness in your legs and feet? This is driving me nuts. I cannot stand with my newborn child without my wife telling me my legs are shaking and I have no clue they are shaking whatsoever.

[kevin4998]

Same problems here, and same area as well. Lumbar Spinal Stenosis, two surgeries with moderate help. It is very frustrating, even to sneeze or cough can put me too my knees. Leaning abit to right helps, but basically since it got serious in 2005 my life has drastically changed.. several jobs later too try and find a job I could handle was very hard on family and finances. Last year I gave up and filed for SSD (Feb), and just won it at the Judge level just this July. I had other issues as well though. But, I was able to tie my depression into the loss of my jobs/family due to the stenosis and what I have went through over the last few years.

I am lucky that my first year of service I had signs of this issue (SMR'r refer L5-S1 pain three or four times, with meds prescribed and VA hospital has me on Codone for the pain currently), so I have claims in for the this. One day maybe something will come of it, for now I have my fingers crossed.

All I can say is the pain is pretty much constant, some times it radiates down one or even both legs.. some times tingling or numbness in one or both feet. It verys in pain and duration to what ever I am doing. I have to limit walking.. dishes are a pain literally to do. I have to pay very close attention what I am doing at all times, or later or even the next day I have to rest all day. It does change your life.

[jrvet95]

I have facet arthritis in L3 to S-2 and I have 2 bulging disc. Twisting and bending cause muscle spams and the neuropathic (nerve) pain is chronic. I have weakness on right side and my toes aches, sole of feet hurt all the time, burning in my hips, shap pain in my ankle. I have started a journal. i am unable to do daily cleaning, problem prepare meal for my family, and i do not drive any more. i have numbness and my feet is alway going to sleep. often, I wake up at night with pain in my ankle and knee.

[TexasCop]

Robert, it sounds like something is on your sciatic nerve. It can cause numbness and sharp pains. During my last surgery, they nicked mine. It doesn't cause a lot of pain, but I do have permanent partial paralysis of my toes on one foot.

[john999]

Has PT been at all helpful for any of you guys. I have lumbar issues and cervical stenosis. I have had injections with no help there. I take Cymbalta and that seems to help, but what really helps is fentanyl patches.

[TexasCop]

It helped me for several years. A strong core does hold the pain at bay for the most part. It's done wonders for my lumbar region. I still have the numbness, though.

[rpowell01]

I had PT on my cervical spine in December of last year for 4 weeks. At first it was good then I started having reactions to the tractions they were doing. I would go to work right after I left PT and man my arms and chest muscles would hurt so back and the headaches were awful. I will say though that my neck isn't as stiff as it was before PT but after PT my neck now sounds like "Rice Krispies" tilting or turning it. And if I sneeze wow pain shoots in both arms.

I am just tired of being in pain, just sick and tired of it. I feel bad that I cannot hold my newborn longer than I can but my wife understands....I think this is the hardest impact on my life right now..

Edited August 12, 2012 by rpowell01