What could cause a debilitating sudden pain in upper leg?

What would cause upper back pain right side along with lower back pain and left leg pain?

• Answer:

  It's not spinal stenosis - stenosis does not cause that type of pain, though it can lead to other problems that can cause it. In addition to stenosis, disk problems for over 20 years, 3 major spinal operations, I also have a specific hereditary problem that led to my condition and degeneration. I've been in formal Pain Mgt for over 10 years, requiring the strongest opiates. I have had disk herniations and pain occur and reoccur many times over the years. Certain disks press on certain nerves that can be traced by the pain, determining the origin of the nerve being compressed. You have 1 or 2 potential problems, depending on how far up the pain is on your back, or if you've had a specific injury recently or you play contact sports. If the pain is sharp and you can follow it with your finger, what you likely have is a herniated disk at the L3/L4 disk or L4/L5 disk, most likely the L3/L4. The other is there's an offchance you might have more than one. The best way to determine which disk is by tracing the rout of the nerve pain. If it's down the back of the leg it's in the lower vertebrae, L5-S1. L3 and L4 pain will radiate from the middle of the back, down to the waist, across the hip of one side, across the side of the leg, across the thigh and finally stopping at the inside knee, depending on the severity of the problem. If the upper pain is in the shoulder area it's likely unrelated. If it's within a foot of the waistline just above the buttocks, offcenter of the spine itself, then it's likely related to the disk causing the leg pain as the pain normally traces the nerve path. In any event, you need to get to you doctor ASAP, and cease any lifting over a few pounds. You also need to start reducing the inflammation to get the disk to retract into the membrane. My 2 favorite non prescription meds are Bayer Back and Body Aspirin, and Tylenol Rapid Release geltabs. Start tracking your pain as well - severity on a 1-10 scale (10 being unbearable), the location (draw a simple body picture and note the location), the time of day it occurs or if it's constant, what you're doing if it gets worse, anything. It will help you later on when you see a doctor. You can also get those forms (Pain diaries) at Http://www.painfoundation.org.