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Diagnosis of Back Pain With Leg Pain

Back pain is a common problem among adults in the United States. It can have a variety of causes and it can be difficult for a doctor to isolate the one that is causing your pain. If you experience back pain with leg pain, that narrows down the potential causes and makes it easier for your doctor to give you a diagnosis.

  1. The Facts

    • Back pain with leg pain can lead your doctor to give you a diagnosis that you are suffering from sciatica. The sciatic nerve begins in your spine in your lower back. It runs down the back of back of each of your legs. The sciatic nerve controls the muscles in the back of your lower legs and in your knees. It also provides sensation for the back of your thighs and parts of your lower legs and the soles of your feet. When the sciatic nerve is injured or compressed, the condition is called sciatica.

    Symptoms

    • The symptoms of sciatica often begin with pain in your lower back. The pain then travels down the back of one of your legs. The pain can change and feel more like a tingling, a burning or a severe cramp in your leg. It can cause weakness in your legs and you might have trouble walking. The pain can become worse when you sneeze or cough.

    Causes

    • Back pain with leg pain is usually caused by an injury to your sciatic nerve. This injury can be caused by lifting heavy objects. Jarring movement like that of a car accident can cause inflammation from strain to the nerve. A herniated disk in your back can also be the source of the problem. A herniated disk slips out of place in your spine and presses against your sciatic nerve, causing pressure and pain.

    Diagnosis

    • In order to give you a diagnosis of sciatica, your doctor can perform several tests. She can perform a neuromuscular examination of your legs, looking for trouble moving your legs or feet or abnormal reflexes. She can also order x-rays, an MRI or a CT scan to see what injury might have occurred to your back. This will allow her to determine what is causing your back pain with leg pain.

    Treatment

    • After you are given a diagnosis for the cause of your back pain with leg pain, you and your doctor will discuss treatment options. Initial treatment usually involves over-the-counter pain medication and rest for your back. Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles that help support your back can help to relieve the pain. In severe cases, surgery might be necessary to fix the problem.

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