What causes severe pain in the legs?
Patient: I have recently began experiencing significant pain in my glutes and down my legs. The pain is a dull ache that keeps escalating until I have to change the position I m currently in. The pain is most severe on my left side. I started physical therapy but was not having any relief. I thought it was more muscular than actually my back. However, an MRI of my lower back revealed a herniated disc at L5-S1 with associated cyst causing left side impingement and severe spinal canal narrowing at L3-L4 & L4-L5. I see a spine specialist in a few days, this being new to me, do you have any suggestion as to a few educated questions I would want to ask the doctor. What can I expect regarding remedies and future abilities. severI ve recently started having This is all new to me but I ve Doctor: Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.  Your MRI report shows herniated disc which your suffering from sciatica. your spine doctor will first start you on pain killers and would ask you to do some exercise daily specially back exercise. if those pain killers don't work, then he/she might start you on muscle relaxants or drugs like Pregabalin or Gabapentin. Surgery will be the last option if all these remedies fail.  Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.