Could numbness, from L-5 impingement localize to feet?

I had surgery in August 2024 on L3-L5 due to pain/weakness/numbness from low back/hips/buttocks down to feet. It was worse when I walked/stood for more than 5-10 minutes. Also hard to sit in the same position for too long. This was caused by spinal stenosis/degenerative disc disease and neurogenic claudication. My surgery involved removing discs between vertebrae and fusing after removing lamina to stabilize my spine. I am 55, female. It has been over 2 months now and I do not have the symptoms of pain/numbness like I did and have some residual weakness in my hips/hip flexors which my hope is physical therapy will help me strengthen over time.

Have you tried spinal injections to help reduce inflammation around spinal nerves? Have you tried physical therapy to see if stretching/strengthening can help relieve pressure on your nerves?

yes, through the perineal nerve.
https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/common-fibular-nerve

Hi dlydailyhope, Thank you for your reply. Yes I did after the fact of my own laminectomy and fusion of L3- L5 in April of 23. My stories long and convoluted at this point. So I'll spare everyone for now as to details. Other than I had a Long onset drop foot on my left side. That was not the reason for the surgery. 4 months after surgery as I began to walk more. Both feet started to become numb and I suspect it is from the L5-S1 joint. Which was not done to shorten surgery time with the caveat it may require maintenance in the future. I have had a myriad of tests, imaging etc. and have been given conflicting opinions. So I am continuing my investigations, hence my question. 🙂

yes. My (radiculopathy) to the feet was resolved well after 1) hip replacement surgeries and 2) lumbar surgery. Nerves were getting squished coming out of the spine and hips.

Thanks loriesco, just to clarify did your radiculopathy caused by your spine localize in your feet. Or did it radiate down your entire leg to the feet... I ask because I've had a neurologist say my feet issue could be being caused organically by my spine. but a neurosurgeon who he referred me to stating it couldn't be being caused by an L5 impingement. Because it doesn't radiate down the entire leg. Then the 2nd time I met with the neurologist, unsolicited said that he doesn't necssarily agree with the neurosurgeons opinion... Sooo essentially I'm loosing my mind here, as I also read on line that a spine radiculopathy can localize to the feet without radiating down the leg. Although it's not as common and generally does radiate down the leg.

Hello
Thank you for posting on this topic. I understand your frustration. I have had lumbar pain and b/l feet pain for years. I had a plantar fasciotomy bi lateral operation several years ago. I was a nurse in the hospital for 20 plus years. My point is I have seen so many neurologists and surgeons, some say the foot pain may be relative to the spine being compressed.
I have been diagnosed with severe spinal stenosis and facet joint arthropathy. L4L5. I am visiting my sons in AZ, I am from NJ. I am meeting with neuro orthopedic surgeon at Mayo to discuss if surgery will help. If I don't sit down after 5-6 min my lower lumbar is so burning and aching the pain will travel straight to my feet. I don't really have leg pain. I am being told I need a fusion as my L4L5 vertebrae have slipped 13mm. The pain is literally crippling me. If I go out I need a cushion and portable chair to sit. I am now getting numbness and tingling in my right leg down to my right foot. I had a laminectomy in 2021 to relieve the left sciatica but was told it wouldn't help with my back pain. There is talk that if I have even 4 hours relief from a facet joint injection procedure then I may have back pain relief from surgery.

15 years ago I must have seen 4 different neurologists who said that back pain has nothing to do with foot pain which is why I had plantar fasciotomy. It can be very confusing to know what to do. I really just want relief so I can feel better.

Thank you to everyone who shares their stories on here. As a nurse I believe each person has a bit of a different situation going on but it does help to share with others those individual experiences in an effort to get to the other side of debilitating pain.

What were your symptoms and did you get relief?

@jchet,
a friend had foot drop--both feet. Imaging revealed hardware movement subsequent to surgery compressing the perineal nerve. Complete recovery wasn't immediate after revision--removal and replacement of screws, which suggests that the nerve was partially damaged. He recovered during (maybe with the help of) physical therapy.
Though I was with him for each stage of the process, second hand is never as good as the lived expression.
I hope you repose the question directed or not, so that genuine players will respond.
Reimaging is crucial. And in his case hard to get.

Did the plantar fasciotomy accomplish any measure of relief for you...

why is reimaging hard to get for your friend?