Lower back pain along with right leg stiffening and both feet numbing

by Kyle
(NC)

About 4 years ago I was walking and took a step off of a curb. Without stumbling or tripping I lost feeling from the waist down, although I could still walk I had a very hard time staying balanced. After a week I went to the chiropractor and started having adjustments 3 times a week. After two months of doing this I was at a crossroad where I wasn't getting better nor was I getting worse. I decided to buy an inversion table which was the best thing I have ever put money into. Fast forward almost 2 years I had feeling and was able to bowl again but wasn't well by any means and decided to go to another Chiropractor which was another great decision without just a couple weeks was feeling a million times better. After x-rays we could see I had sacralization of L5 and sciatic nerve was inflamed for some reason! But I was a ton better well about 2 months ago I fell right on my tail bone and jarred everything and since then I have been getting worse. My feet go to sleep and I stumble a lot more than I was, dragging feet, and bowling is getting harder to do again! My left leg I feel constantly and will start to stiffen up after a long day of working or bowling. I am going to the chiropractor to no great avail of recovering and I have no insurance to go have a mri done so what I have isn't looking very good at all. I work for myself and do a lot of riding and it is very difficult for me to get out of the truck and start walking because I am so stiff. I can twist and turn and it will pop and adjust which makes it feel better but this is getting old and I am hoping something here can help! Thank you

Hello Kyle,
There is no easy answer; although officially folk with a lumbarisation have no more difficulty my experience is that they do have more trouble; that's where you are.

Pity about the second fall, you were obviously doing much better, but as they say shit happens, and it's now in the past. Just make sure there is no third fall.

The worrying part is the weakness that is developing. Go to the site search engine at chiropractic help and type in leg pain muscular weakness. Watch the video, and tell me which muscle is weak.

Are you doing any lower back exercises? Vital in a case like yours, first thing in the morning before getting out of bed. And if you're careful, you can do some of them on the skyhook.

Which movements are the most painful, Kyle? Bending forwards, backwards, to the side? Do any produce pain in the leg.

The key here is to work out which level is causing the pain; it may be at the lower levels, but it might also be higher.

Do the Slump Test which you'll find using search again.

Let me know the results of all these questions, and perhaps I can a few more suggestions.

Start the exercises; every morning, faithfully. Oh, and sit less, especially in chairs where it hurts.

Dr B

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Interesting challenges of the day

1. Mr S is a 76 year old man with neck pain of some 9 months duration. Luckily, most of the discomfort is upper cervical which is only rarely arthritic; his lower cervical spine is a degenerative mess that I've left alone. After seven treatments his pain and stiffness is 50 percent better, and he's happy in the circumstances. He can sleep through the night now and that makes a huge difference.

2. Mr P is 32 year old man with very severe lower back pain radiating to the big toe which is 30 percent numb. He had an episode three weeks ago, took anti inflammatories and was soon better as is typical of the medial disc herniation. But before it healed, after a trivia it came roaring back, much worse. The characteristic crossed sign was evident; sitting in a chair, straightening the right leg provoked severe left back pain and tingling in the leg. He's doing well.

3. Severe lower back pain is scary; just ask Mrs P. Just watching her get out of the car I she was in trouble; she had a slipped disc at L4 making her lean towards the opposite side; luckily she had no pain in the leg. Despite family pressure that this was far too severe for a chiropractor, she persevered. Within five days she was standing upright, and after two weeks almost painfree. 

Despite a hectic job, she wisely took my advice and stayed home for what I call exercising bed rest.

4. Mr S has had lower back, groin and back of thigh and calf pain for fourth months.

He has a pincer deformity in the hip causing the stabs in the groin, and a degenerative facet causing the sciatica. Both are responding well to chiropractic and he's well pleased; sixty five percent better after three treatments.

5. Mr T is a wise man; he's taken a warning TIA seriously and has lost 15 pounds, and has at least as much again to lose. A change to a low starch diet and half hour daily walk has made the difference; but the walking is making his foot and back miserable. The expensive orthotic is hopeless; luckily his hips and back are fine, but he needs a simple heel lift.

6. I too have had serious lower back issues, luckily fixed by my own chiropractor; so I too have to do my exercises, take care when lifting supers full of honey, gardening and using the chainsaw. Regaining the function of your spine is just as important as the pain.

7. My own granddaughter, only 7 is hypermobile giving her pelvic, knee and ankle issues. Xrays show a mildly dysplastic hip. Years ago we would have called it growing pains. She too regularly needs chiropractic care and luckily responds well. Increased range of motion is more difficult than too stiff in my opinion. Our care is for kids too.

8. This 65 year old lady is a serious gardener; every day she is bending, lifting and digging for 2 to 3 hours a day. It regularly catches her in the sacroiliac joint, so she has a treatment once a month that sorts it out. She does her lower back exercises faithfully.

9. This 88 year old lady is an inspiration; every day she is busy in the community. With a nasty scoliosis she manages very well with a chiropractic adjustment every six weeks and exercises faithfully done.  

10. Mr X is a 71 year old retired man who wants to continue with maintenance care every six to eight weeks; he had suffered from two years of lower back pain when he first came a year ago. He has no discomfort now after 8 chiropractic treatments, but is aware that danger lurks.

11. Mrs C has been having severe headaches, and taking a lot of analgesics. It's a non complicated upper cervical facet syndrome, and she's doing well.

12. Mr D is a 38 old year man with chronic shoulder pain after a rotator cuff tear playing cricket. It responded well to treatment, but he knows he must do his exercises every day; for two years he couldn't sleep on that shoulder.

13. Mr D, a 71 year old man, has a severe ache in the shoulder and midback since working above his head. Trapped nerve tests are negative but he has advanced degenerative joints of Luschka; after just two treatments he is 50 percent better. Can we reach 90?

And so the day goes; chiropractors shouldn't be treating the elderly most medical sites state but that's so much bunkum.

Have a problem that's not getting better? Looking for a different slant on your pain? Want to pose a question?

Interesting questions from visitors

CLS writes:

Greetings, Dr B.
You helped me quite some time back with a soothing and professional response which turned out to be exactly correct. I now consult a local chiropractor. You write a superb newsletter, too.

Your own unresolved problem. Pose a question

Knowing that up to 70% of the time the correct diagnosis is made with no examination, no special tests, no xrays, but just from the history, there's a fair chance I can add some insight to your unresolved problem. But at least 30% of the time, I may be quite wrong! Give plenty of detail if you want a sensible reply.


You visited this chiropractic help site no doubt because you have a problem that is not resolving and want to know more about what chiropractors do.

The quickest and most interesting way is to read one of my ebooks of anecdotes. Described by a reader as gems, both funny and healthful, from the life and work of a chiropractor, you'll love them. Priced right at $2.99, though Kindle fiddles the price without telling me.