If im reading it right it's the l4 & l5 right? If so then the pain in the left leg would be he cause of the that. My hubby has a bulged disk between l4 & l5 and gets bad pain in his left leg. It starts obviously in the back and goes down his buttock and down the back side of the leg. I have a posting on here that gives more description of the treatment that he's been doing. Hope that things get better for you!

Thanks. I was just a bit confused because they said that the central herniation in l4/l5 wasn't near the roots. I was under the assumption that the roots were what would cause the pain.

I would concur that the herniations are causing the trouble. The central herniation may not be directly pinching the nerve, but you can believe that there is swelling in the area that will cause you to have the symptoms you described. Good luck

The herniated discs most surely would cause the pain and discomfort you feel in your left leg.

When I was 19 I fell down some stairs twisting my back and fracturing it and it fortunately healed but left me with a herniated disc at l5/s1. It wasnt a bad herniated disc but significant enough to cause great discomfort and numbness in my left leg.

At 22 I had a lumbar laminectomy at l5/s1 and felt so much better.

10 short months later (my reprieve) I was in a car accident (i was stopped at a red light and someone without car insurance rear ended my car) and re-herniated l5/s1; herniated l1/l2;l2/l3;l3/l4;t11/t12;t12/l1; and c5/c6. Fortunately for me, the discs that gave me the great deal of pain were c5/c6, l4/l5 and l5/s1.

I had to wait until january 13, 2006 when I was 25 to go to charleston, south carolina (i am from columbia), where I found the most wonderful neurosurgeon to do a laminotomy on l4/l5 and a one level fusion - for now - on l5/s1- after a week I felt wonderful! No leg pain, hip pain, back pain!!! No more pain killers, muscle relaxers nothing! I do have to wear a back brace for approximately 6 months.

I feel so great I am going to let him fix my neck after I recover from this.

I most certainly believe that your leg pain is from the culprit of l4/l5/s1. Find a great surgeon and get it taken care of - dont go through life in pain or doped up on pain killers. I thought I could go through life on pain killers and that is how I totalled a brand new car and was amazed that I came out unscathed.

Good luck!