Introduction
Back and leg pain is a common neurological symptom among the patients who consult the Neurologists.
What are the causes of back and leg pain?
Lumbar Disc Prolapse
This refers to a common condition whereby the disc (a part of the spine which is almost circular in shape, resembling the disc which we use in our computer), has moved backward and caused pressure on the spinal cord.
Lumbar Disc Prolapse causes sciatica, which is leg pain that starts from the back (our spine), and then spreads to the legs. There is usually numbness of legs as well.
Spinal Cord Tumours or Cancer
It has to be emphasized that occasionally serious medical disorders such as Spinal cord tumours or cancer can cause symptoms which are similar to Lumbar Disc Prolapse.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a long-term (chronic) health condition that causes pain throughout your body, especially the muscles. The cause of Fibromyalgia is unknown. Fibromyalgia is triggered by emotional stress.
Arthritis
Arthritis (inflammation of the joint) can cause back and leg pain, especially the hip or knee joints. A common cause is Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disorder.
Spinal Injury
Injury to the spine due to falls or road traffic accidents is a common cause of back pain.
Emotional Disorders
Chronic pain is a well-known symptom of emotional disorders such as Anxiety and Depression. The pain can be present at any part of the body, especially head, neck, abdomen, chest and back (spine). Typically, the pain is most severe during stressful period.
When should a patient with back and leg pain consult the Neurologist?
I advise all patients who have this symptom to consult the Neurologist because it can be caused by life-threatening neurological disorders such as spinal cord tumours or cancer.
What will the Neurologist do for patients with back and leg pain?
The Neurologist will perform physical examination, blood tests and MRI scan of the spine.
MRI spine showing evidence of Lumbar Disc Prolapse
** Image by freepik