AboutLeslie Hartman Expertise In 1995, a car wreck left me with a c7 spinal cord injury. I am female (which I note as it is fairly unusual with SCI), age 33. I have a working knowledge of physiology and a degree in Rehab and Psychology, and I can answer questions concerning adaptive equipment, the mental and emotional states/changes, physical changes, travelling (via car or airplane) and obstacles you might encounter at home or in the world. I can also tell you, based on past experience, several things NOT to do...
Experience neuroscience- spinal cord injury
Education/Credentials bachelors degree, rehabilitation and psychology
Expert: Leslie Hartman Date: 5/10/2008 Subject: Severe Pain In lower back from fall
Question I slipped on a rug that was on my hardwood floors 5 says ago. (They had been dry dusted with Orange Oil and were very slippery) My husband said my feet went up in the air and I landed straight in my lower back. Since then I ahve severe pain and pressure on my lower spine and butt and on my right side I have severe pain and burning going down the outside of my right leg and is causing my leg to feel heavy and foot to go numb and the pain starts right above my butt and travels down my hip to my leg. I do have a little pain going down my right leg starting at my lower back but it stops at my knee. I have a hard time wlking and sitting. When I stand it feels better that sitting for about 4 min then it too causes pain! I also have a weird feeling from my back to my butt then to both hips and it feels like I have a cell phone on my back that is on vibrate. My Primary care doctors P.A. did an x-ray the day after it happened and she said she really could not tell me much and that she could see some disc compression and straighting of my spine. She called a neurologist and made an appt. For the middle of next week. I am in severe pain and I can't get any answers of what might be going on! Could you please give me your opinion because I can't get on anywhere else!
Answer hi alaina-
sorry for the delay, i've been out of town! Here's the best guess I can give you based on your question:
sounds like you've got a bit of sciatica- your sciatic nerve runs down from about waist high curves around to the outside of your thigh and travels on down. Your fall may have caused some swelling at the part of your back where the nerve comes out, causing the sensations.
I'd recommend taking advil- 3 every 4 hours unless you have a problem with ibuprofen. You can also try using hot or hot and cold alternating on the area of your back near your waistline. 20minutes each, no longer. If you do have some pressure on the nerve there they will easily tell with an MRi scan, can treat it with steroid injections or whatever they deem necessary
