How a woman is navigating the Giant Herniated Disc Dilemma: Surgery vs. more Conservative Treatment

[@huytwsu]

Dear Dr. Lieberman, I just found your channel and watched a whole bunch of videos. They are really helpful. Thank you so much for taking your time to provide us these valuable information! I have a tickling feeling going down my left leg outside all the way to the small toe from a week ago. Minor pain at lower back. No pain in leg or foot. I did the walking on heel, on toe, and straight leg test, all fine with good strength. However, it has been a week, the tickling feeling has not gone away in my leg or foot. Sometimes really light, but sometimes more noticeable. Also, when I walk, sometimes I feel a minor pain in my lower back when stepping my left foot on ground. I can also feel the acute back pain when I move my body a certain way. I suspect that I have a L5/S1 bulging disc based on my internet research, but have not seen a doctor yet. Meanwhile, I try to do all the right thing, lie on bed to rest more, avoid sitting all the time, and be really careful when walking. However, I am really stressed that the numbness or tickling feeling has not gone away in a week, and it seems to go from just the small toe to a more general area of the foot. So I am afraid it will develop to something more serious like being paralyzed. Do you think there is immediate need for me to see the doctor or wait a few weeks? How many weeks should I expect the tickling and numbness feeling to completely go away? Sorry if I seem paranoid. This is the first time I experience this and it scares me so much that I cry in the morning.... Really appreciate your opinion on my case. Thank you so much!

[@BestPracticeHealth]

Well, you get an A+. Low back pain radiating to the pinky toe is typically sciatica due to an l5/s1 disc herniation or a bone spur with foraminal stenosis. It sounds like you have no red flags, no functional deficit, and the pain and numbness are improving. The matrix would indicate the best thing to do is wait it out. Avoid impact and stress. And get an MRI if things go bad after 3-6 weeks. Good?

[@huytwsu]

@@BestPracticeHealth Thank you so much, Dr. Lieberman. I did the lumbar MRI last week. It came back normal. However, the radiating to the pinky toe on left side is still not going away. And I can feel a sore spot right next to the L5/S1 especially after sitting. It is less noticeable when standing or walking. I don't know if I can show you my MRI. Is it possible that the doctor missed something minor? What kind of specialist should I go see? Or what recommendation do you have? Thanks again!

[@Preeti-lw9jc]

​@@huytwsuhow are you now hope you're doing well ❤️‍🩹

[@KaeC-24]

this was really helpful! did Emily follow up?

[@BestPracticeHealth]

Thanks! No follow up yet.

[@steliosemmanouilidis5050]

Hi dr lieberman, how can I get in contact with you like the lady in this video?

[@BestPracticeHealth]

Hi! We are not recording new visits right now. Sorry. I hope we can get back live soon.

[@JG-vs7de]

Hello , can you talk more about the numbness in the lower extremities, With a herniated disc? Thanks

[@BestPracticeHealth]

A hernaited disc with sciatica can cause numbness in the part of the body covered by the irritated nerve root. L4 is the inside of the ankle. L5 between the big and first toe. And S1 the outside of the foot by the pinky toe. Which one do you have?

[@JG-vs7de]

I have a herniated disk in L4-L5, I’m concerned about all the numbing

[@JG-vs7de]

The numbness is in my groin area & leg

[@kaffirfromgod5162]

Well if drop foot is rare i hit the lottery. I did recover from drop foot it took a hell of a lot of determination. I still recovered.

[@terriliggett5377]

I have intermittent numbness in my groin and I have sciatica. I’ve had left sided sciatica for 1 year. The groin numbness intermittently for 6 weeks. It’s quite unnerving. What dies groin and even anal tingling mean? Thank you.

[@BestPracticeHealth]

Pain radiating to the groin is typical of hip arthritis. Groin numbness is not from the lumbar spine. Similarly, anal numbness is not from areas that could involve the groin. So, from a neurological perspective, these symptoms would have to be located in the thoracic spinal cord. However, this pattern is not typical of anything with which I am familiar.

[@Preeti-lw9jc]

Hey, how are you now?? Do you have any herniated disc?? Does the groin numbness is still there?? Do you feel tingling in that area?? Did you get to know the reason for this???

[@prs7100]

Do you risk side effects by waiting to have surgery?

[@BestPracticeHealth]

Mostly if you have a neurological deficit. If you have no numbness or weakness, the issue is primarily the amount of pain.

[@MrCarstennielsen]

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[@MrCarstennielsen]

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