Question
QUESTION: Hello I recently had a pulled muscle and tendonitis in my knee. I was sent for physical therapy for my knee and the next day I had severe burning numbness and tingling down both legs and in my groin. I also have burning on my outter thighs.It has been 3 weeks and the intensity has some what subsided I am still having shots of electric, a rippling feeling down my legs (in muscles or nerves?)and pain/burning in my heel and outside of my foot. I also have the feeling of instability in both knees more so the left.Is the instability from the back?
How long does this take to heal? My job is in a library and I spend 2-4 hours a day bending & squatting some times until my feet fall asleep.

ANSWER: Michelle,

While I can't provide you with a diagnosis over the Internet, your symptoms in both legs indicate the strong possibility of a lumbar disc herniation. MRI is the gold standard for evaluating lumbar disc disorders. The McKenzie method spinal evaluation is also helpful when used in a clinical setting by a qualified health care provider. Typically, repetitive backwards bending of the spine causes a reduction of leg symptoms and back pain, whereas repetitive forward bending causing a sharp increase of symptoms. Your occupational requirements of repetitive bending and squatting probably haven't helped the situation. I recommend that you see a musculoskeletal-based chiropractor or your primary care physician for further evaluation.

I hope that this helps to answer your question.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your response. My MRI results shows 3 bulging discs and the bulge with a tear. No stenosis or pinched nerve(that they can see). I have more pain when sitting to long in the groin deep in the butt and the front where femur meets pelvis. Could nerve compression cause these symptoms. Someone mentioned psoais and pitoforis tightness? Are there nerves in that area that could possible cause this. Physical therapy seems to exacerbate some of the symptoms. I know you cant diagnose me but I would surly appreciate some direction.

Answer
Pain may be referred from the lumbar spine to the hip. However, sacro-iliac joint pain may also refer to the hip as well as the groin. Hip pain emanating from the hip joint itself may be caused by hip impingement. It takes an astute clinician and sometimes the additional help of advanced diagnostic imaging (usually MRI of the spine and hip) to determine the cause of the pain.

This is an article discussing hip impingement:

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2009/1215/p1429.html

I hope that this helps to answer your question.