Annular tear at L4/L5 symptoms

[RocketFish]

Hello everyone,

I have been suffering from pain in the right buttock and down the right leg (only above knee NOT in the foot) for over a year. I also had an episode of a partial right foot drop and muscle weakness 6 months ago that fully resolved itself within 25 days.

Recent MRI showed extensive annular tear at the L4/L5 and I have been offered an option of the ADR at that level. However, I am concerned that it may not address the pain that seems to correspond more to the L5/S1 level which, as mentioned earlier, seems to be alright - no bulge, tear or nerve compression.

Has anybody experienced pain in the buttock and down the back of the leg as a result of L4/L5 annular tear?

Many thanks

[mattbrand]

RocketFish,

No, I haven't "experienced pain in the buttock and down the back of the leg as a result of L4/L5 annular tear?" as you ask.

However, I would research more what nerves at what level affect which leg functions and areas. Excuse my ignorance and I am going from my poor memory now on some of the previous research I have done. But I believe that the L5-S1 level affects the lower leg more than the upper and that the L4-L5 level does usually affect the upper leg more than the L5-S1.

One thing I have learned though is how uncertain diagnosis is and what is the exact cause of your problem. So many spinal levels affect similar regions of your legs that sometimes it is hard to pin down the exact problem.

Good luck with it all!

[Harrison]

Hope this helps:

Correlating pain to spinal areas

[kennethhoff]

I would suggest having a discogram to see which level(s) correspond to your pain, especially if you are considering surgery.

[longroadahead]

I have been having right leg pain that you describe and my last CT Scan in March 2010 showed a:

L5/S1 - Grade 5 posterolateral annular tear/disc herniation
L4/5 - Grade 2/3 posterior annular tear/mild broad based disc bulge

There were other findings but these 2 are the most significant. The pain in my leg is a new symptom and has started this year.

Seriously considering surgery now but keep going back and fourth on it.

[JJames]

Rocketfish -
I have grade 5 annular tears in both my L4/L5 and L5/S1 (based on my discogram awhile back). My most excrutiating and constant pain is pretty much the same as yours, in between sciatica spasm episodes, but I am not sure which one is creating the pain similar to yours.
Jeff