What causes severe pain in the buttocks?
Patient: For a month, I have had severe pain in my lefts buttocks, hip, leg and foot. I had a laminectomy L1,3,5 in 2014. The current (lower spine/thorastic) MRI shows no major changes, just scar tissue from previous surgery, spinal narrowing, degenerative disc disease, bulging disc and spondylosis. The neurosurgeon says this will go away--that was three weeks ago. Pain Management team has me in aquatics, celebrex, ibuprofen and Tylenol. Yet, the pain continues. Further, the left leg goes to sleep from the buttocks to the foot when I m walking, and I threaten to fall. Could something else be going on other than back issues? Does this warrant a call to my PcP? Should I just give up and live with the severity? I need answers, or help. Doctor: Hi,  The severe pain in the buttocks that you have can be related to degenerative changes in the spine causing a mild nerve root compression.   Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.  Regards, Dr. Praveen Tayal,  Orthopedic Surgeon