Question
I have a history of back problems. I was just diagnosed in year ago January with a bulging disk at L3-L4, a herniation at L4-L5, and another bulge at L5-S1. I have been seeing a chiropractor and he has helped tremendously!!  For a long time (almost a year) I had pain down the back of my leg, the back of my knee, and along my tibia. It is my understanding that this was caused by pressure on the nerve. I was so glad when the pain went away!!  

Anyway, three days ago I decided to take my dog for a walk. We walked a little over 3.5 miles. The walk wasn't strenuous in any way, I work retail and am on my feet a lot so I didn't think anything of taking a long walk even though it isn't something I usually do. I noticed that my knee started to hurt while I was walking, just a bit uncomfortable I also notice a difference in my gait. Now three days later the pain is worse. My back doesn't hurt but pain runs down my butt, thigh, back of my knee, and then down my tibia.

I didn't think I would have this problem again unless I injured my back again. I wanted to believe that it was just shin splints but it hard to over look the pain in my knee, and the occasional tingling. Can you tell me why a walk would cause this to happen again, and is it just something I will periodically have to deal with?

Thanks
Pam

Answer
Pam,
It may be something you will deal with on and off for life. A disc herniation  is a permanent injury and will never change, a disc bulge however can
Correct itself over time with chiropractic care. When you walk or run you are using the gluteus muscles and your piriformis muscles. The piriformis goes over and in some cases directly through the sciatic nerve. My guess would be that this muscle tightened up and is putting pressure
On the nerve. So, you should stretch your piriformis muscle. I would go on YouTube and teach yourself how to stretch this muscle. If it relieves it, then you know you are on the right track. This is probably why the back isn't hurting and the pain starts at the piriformis.
If the pain still persists after stretching then go back to your chiropractor.
Ps- you should be seeing your chiropractor a few times a year for check ups similar to dental checkups.
I'm fairly confident this will ease the pain. It's too difficult for me to explain in words how to stretch the piriformis that's why I suggest YouTube.
Good luck!