medical issues | Lucky Otters Haven

My daughter injured her back in 2007 (she fell off the second floor deck of our house) and has had back problems ever since.

Yesterday her back started to become very painful and she could barely move. Today she reports she has tingling in her legs. She is on her way to the hospital where they will be testing to see what’s wrong.

Please keep her in your prayers. Thanks.

ETA: I just found this online, which explains what may be causing the leg tingling. It’s a condition called sciatica and has several causes. I believe it’s due to her injury and yesterday she did say she strained her back attempting to pick up a heavy box.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000686.htm

Sciatica
Sciatica refers to pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the leg. It is caused by injury to or pressure on the sciatic nerve. Sciatica is a symptom of another medical problem. It is not a medical condition on its own.

Causes
Sciatica occurs when there is pressure or damage to the sciatic nerve. This nerve starts in the lower back and runs down the back of each leg. This nerve controls the muscles of the back of the knee and lower leg. It also provides sensation to the back of the thigh, part of the lower leg, and the sole of the foot.

Common causes of sciatica include:

Slipped disk
Spinal stenosis
Piriformis syndrome (a pain disorder involving the narrow muscle in the buttocks)
Pelvic injury or fracture [I’m guessing this is the cause]
Tumors

Symptoms
Sciatica pain can vary widely. It may feel like a mild tingling, dull ache, or burning sensation. In some cases, the pain is severe enough to make a person unable to move.

The pain most often occurs on one side. Some people have sharp pain in one part of the leg or hip and numbness in other parts. The pain or numbness may also be felt on the back of the calf or on the sole of the foot. The affected leg may feel weak. Sometimes, your foot gets caught on the ground when walking.