Question
Dr.
For about two weeks i had a dull lower back pain that i thought may have been kidney or liver problems but tests proved that wrong. Tehn i was at the gym the other day and went to do a lateral raise for my shoulder and my lower back had a sharp pain and my legs became weak. It subsided but later that night i went to pick up a bucket my legs went weak underneath me and the sharp pain came back for about an hour. The physio can't tell me wahts wrong. I have minor spinal stenosis in my neck (diagnosed a year ago). I can twist and bend fine. The sharo pain reoccurs in my lower back on the left side when i tilt my chin to my chest.
Can you help?

Answer
Dear Clint,

From what you have described, it is likely that you have herniated a disk in your low back.  The reason that I say this is because of the location of pain, the fact that you have pain upon muscular exertion in muscle away from the source, and the fact that bending your chin to your chest increases the low back pain.  

The best way to rule this out is with functional testing of the low back to include orthopedic tests, and range of motion assessment in relation to a complete medical history.  if the testing indicates disk pathology, then an MRI should be ordered to look specifically at the disk and surrounding nerve roots.  I would seek out the care of a chiropractic or orthopedic physician for this examination, not a physio or general practice doctor.

For more information on disk anatomy and pathology with illustrations and descriptions of common orthopedic testing, please refer to my website under patient information.

Good Luck Clint...make the appointment.

Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net