Question
I experienced sporatic episodes of lower back pain in past which usually got better after 3 or 4 days but after driving truck for year or so I began having pain in left leg and numbness and tingling in toes of left foot. Over the past year it has increased with pain in groin area as well and I have been diagnosed as having bulging disc at L4-L5. I have had PT 3 times and am currently seeing pain clinic where I recieve dilaudid, bextra and untill I passed huge kidney stone zonegran. Nothing seems to help. I have also seen a neurosurgeon only to be told surgery won't help and could possibly add to my problem. I need relief! Any ideas? I am 47 5'11" 169lbs and since 01/02/02 have decreased in weight from 239lbs.

Answer
Dear Rob, thank you for your question.
You have the classic back problem: starts with intermittent back pain, then moves into buttock area and gradually down the leg, becoming more constant.
The prolonged sitting, while driving, aggravates the problem, because a lot of pressure is put on the front of the disc, pushing it back and out towards the nerves that come from the spinal cord. This causes pain, numbness and can cause weakness.
This can be reversed with proper posture and exercise. Because you have the leg symptoms (pain), it may be necessary to get a thourough spine evaluation. I recommend that you find a certified McKenzie therapist in your area. Go to the McKenzie Institute website at www.mckenziemdt.org,
they have a therapist locator site. The therapist would figure out a specific exercise that will help to push the disc back to it's normal resting positon. The site also has some good info. I also recommend a book by Robin McKenzie, 'Treat your own back' from OPTP.com, costs about $10 and has a lot of great info.
In the meantime, avoid prolonged sitting, bending as much as possible. If you have to drive long distance, make sure you get out and walk around at regular intervals. You can try a basic exercise: resting on your stomach, which puts the arch back into the low back area. Rest on your stomach for 10-15 minutes and see, if the pain slowly comes out of your leg and back into the low back region. If this works, try standing up, place your hands in the small of your back and lean backwards as far as you can- repeat 10 times.
I hope this helps for now, let me know.
Heidi