Question
Hi Dr. Newhart,
I feel helpless right now with my leg being completely numb down the left side of left leg that goes right into my heal and last two toes.  I don't have enough strength to do a calf raise at all while standing.  This all transpired after I was feeling uncomfortable back pain in my lower lumbar/sacral region.  I went to the Chiropractor and told him how sore I was and was nervous about being adjusted down there due to the sensitivity.  He had me on both sides and adjusted me with his weight in a fast movement.  It adjusted and after he put some heat and the tens unit on it.  The same day I had an hour massage.  The next day I woke with quite a strong pulling in my left hamstring and was trying to stretch it all day but it wasn't feeling any bit better.  I awoke the day after with a pulling stronger than the day before and it eventually gave me excruciating pain so bad I couldn't walk and laying on my back with my feet up gave only some relief.  I went to a walkin clinic and he gave me anti-inflammatories to get welling down which he thought I suffered a bulging disk.  They didn't work nor did the percasets I took from my boyfriend (who just had shoulder surgery)  The doctor I saw tested my reflexes in which I had none on the back of my left foot.  So the next day, I was in so much pain, I couldn't walk, couldn't stand, no longer could get some relief laying on the floor, no medications worked and most pain was in my left side of my left quad. So I called the ambulance because I never ever experienced such murderous pain and agony.  I got doses of morphine and a CAT scan that showed I had a bulging disk and would be soon booked for a MRI.  Now that you know what happened; I have two questions:

1) I never had this before just lower back pain from 2 previous accidents (lumbar strain) that I could withstand the pain.  (Not at all like this pain that I suffered) I looked up sciatica and it said it's caused by a quick and sudden movement. So you think it was the chiropractors fault for not doing some research into my pain (ie, checking my reflexes) before he adjusted my lower sacrum where the pain first generated? Do you think that this is what caused this whole incident?

2) now that I am out of pain I am very frustrated at how I still don't have any feeling in my left leg, foot and heel and walk weak with a limp.  How and when does this go away?  Does this mean that my disk is still pinching on my nerve and can this cause permanent damage?
Please help me with this..
Thank you for your concern and response.
Cherie

Answer
Don't let the actions of one chiropractor be your judge of us all; we have our bad apples too.  It is quite possible the adjustment caused it, but not because of the quick movement.  There may have been damage to the disk already, and the adjustment pushed it to the limit.  Reflexes should be checked initially, especially with what you say is your presenting complaint.  If you can find a practitioner of the McKenzie method, I would encourage you to do so.  They can asses and treat disc problems, non surgically, and if there is no change, refer you for proper treatment.  There are many chiropractors certified in McKenzie, and they can be found on their website (I believe it is http://www.mckenziemdt.org/)  I hope all goes well for you.