For almost a year, I've been experiencing pain in my left leg, left buttocks and left side of my left calf when standing or walking for more than a few minutes.
To go back to how this began: Once day I woke up and was unable to stand up straight and was hunched over. I could bare move at all. It was the feeling of 'throwing out your back.' I went to a doctor and he referred me to physical therapy. Within about 2 weeks, I was able to stand up straight and the bulk of the pain/issue was gone, except for the left leg, left buttock, and lateral calf pain. I continued to undergo physical therapy, but this last part of the pain would not go away.
The pain I am experiencing is relieved when sitting, lying down, or bending forward. I was initially diagnosed with sciatica, but the way my symptoms are triggered seem to be the opposite of how they are triggered with sciatica. Typically with sciatica, symptoms are relieved with walking or standing and are worsened with sitting or bending forward. I am able to run, squat, jump, etc. without issue, but simply standing or walking become extremely painful after just a few minutes.
In the last year, I've had 3 rounds of physical therapy, an epidural, myofascial release, cupping, various exercises which I do daily, with no effect. Ibuprofen nor Meloxicam do not relieve the pain either. I've had an X-Ray, bone scan, a lumbar MRI (interpretation posted below), and a pelvic MRI with no significant findings. The spine doctor is unsure what to do and suggested that perhaps I get a second opinion.
This condition has impaired my life as I can't even stand in line to buy groceries or cook or do dishes without having to sit or crouch to temporarily relieve the pain.
Has anyone else experienced this? What was the result and what has helped?
INTERPRETATION:
Conus medullaris terminates at T12-L1 level. It is normal size, shape and signal. No evidence for compression deformity nor pars interarticularis defects. Disc desiccation L5-S1 .
L1-2: No significant central canal or foraminal stenosis.
L2-3: No significant central canal or foraminal stenosis.
L3-4: No significant central canal or foraminal stenosis.
L4-5: Mild disc bulge eccentric to the left with no significant spinal or foraminal stenosis
L5-S1: Mild endplate change with no significant spinal or foraminal stenosis
Visualized portions of the sacrum and the paraspinal soft tissues are unremarkable