“Buttock/leg soreness?”
I am 71 years old and in very good physical condition. I run every day and exercise. For the last 2 months, I have stopped running and now walk. I am having soreness in my buttock and lower leg. I think it's a Sciatica/pinched nerve. What's the best treatment for this?
2 Answers
NeurologistNeurologist
Hello,
I would agree this sounds like compression of the L5/S1 nerve root (aka sciatica). Depending on where and how severe the nerve is compressed treatment can range from anything from physical therapy to surgical decompression. First step in management is to obtain an MRI of the lumbar spine and have a specialist or your physician interpret the MRI findings.
Good luck.
Erik Curtis, MD
I would agree this sounds like compression of the L5/S1 nerve root (aka sciatica). Depending on where and how severe the nerve is compressed treatment can range from anything from physical therapy to surgical decompression. First step in management is to obtain an MRI of the lumbar spine and have a specialist or your physician interpret the MRI findings.
Good luck.
Erik Curtis, MD
The best treatment for preventing worsening of a bulging disc is stretching exercises, but I would see a physician to have them do an exam and get an image to see if it really is a disc and how much it is bulging. Discs usually worsen over time and if they cause weakness, surgery is recommended.
