Scoliosis, L4-5 nerve compression/pain, leg numbness. Please help me!

@cookie07 If you are willing to travel to Mayo in Florida, it might not be a bad idea to also consider Mayo in Rochester which is much larger with a lot more spine surgeons. I had a cervical fusion surgery there with Dr. Jeremy Fogelson who is a neurosurgeon and deformity expert. He does many complex scoliosis cases.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/fogelson-jeremy-l-m-d/bio-20055624
To be seen at Mayo, you need insurance that is accepted there. They may not accept the "Medicare Advantage" plans, but you'll need to check with them. Here is the billing information page.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/billing-insurance
It does take a while to be accepted for a consultation. There are also good surgeons at the Mayo Health Care System which are smaller hospitals and they may have Mayo trained surgeons. Dr. Meghan Murphey was being mentored by Dr. Fogelson at the time of my surgery and she saw me at the hospital. She works in the Mayo Clinic Health System.
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/providers/meghan-murphy-md

@cookie07: I can unfortunately relate to the pain you are experiencing! For me “Sciatica”seems to be on its own timeline, no matter what topical lotions, physical therapy, topical meds, massage, lidocaine patches, hot/cold therapy, pain meds, etc. that we try. And in the grips of this intense pain I will try anything! I have experienced all your symptoms.
My non-medical peer explanation for this pain is that it stems from pinched spinal nerves around vertebrae which inflames and intensifies symptoms and pain.
I think “time”of about six weeks and keeping leg elevated slowly relieves the inflammation and finally the pain is gone.
I had been successful in aleviating the Sciatica pain. I wear a restrictive back brace (FreeToo) at the first “twinge” of back pain and limit all movement… sleeping flat or feet raised to take pressure from lower back, no twisting or bending, etc. I wish I could say this has always worked. Good posture, walking with intention and at slower pace may help too. Hope you get relief soon!

Thank you so much Jennifer! It is a far distance to Mayo I know and if I had to get surgery I would imagine I would have to stay somewhere out there. I live in West Virginia and most of my doctors are in Maryland. I may contact Mayo Clinic just to see the chances of seeing a doctor possibly via a video visit. Not sure. I really do appreciate the information. Thanks again!

Thank you so much dbamos1945 for the information. I am glad that you have been successful alleviating sciatica pain. It can be quite debilitating. However, mine is a bit more complicated I believe. I have never been able to have good posture as I have had scoliosis all my life which has effected my whole spine. Scoliosis compromises the strength of my spine and the vertebrae's. I do sleep flat with a pillow under my legs. I have been looking for a good back brace and will try your suggestion (FreeToo). I have had many challenges in life but this has been the biggest of them all. Thank you for the well wishes.

@cookie07 If you want to contact Mayo, you may use this link. Someone from Mayo would get back to you. You may use this link for any of the Mayo campuses.
http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

@cookie07
What accident did you have in 2024 and why did you not go to the doctors sooner? What treatments did you have when you did go to the doctors?

Why did the surgeon not want to do anything about L4-L5?

Have you tried cortisone spinal injections? What levels of your spine do you have scoliosis and to what degree? When was your last MRI of your full spine?

Do you see a neurologist in addition to orthopedic spine specialists? Do you take any pain medications and what treatments have you had?

Your symptoms sound like neurogenic claudication. I had lower back, hip, buttock, leg and foot pain, weakness and numbness and had decompression and fusion surgery on L3-L5 in 2024 and many of the symptoms improved after surgery recovery (6 months post operation).

I do not know
If these suggestions will help .
Sit on a ice pack.
Use Lidocaine
Patch on
Sciatica nerve
In back.
And Lidocaine
Cream.
I can no longer stand
Most of the time .
I use a wheelchair.
Put a foam cushion in whatever chair you sit on.
If you can take
Tylenol try to
Time it with
The most painful of day .
Try to keep moving

I am sorry to hear about your situation. I do use a cushion and heat and ice. I plan to try PT again but I have my doubts. It doesn't seem fair in life. I know it will get worse as scoliosis doesn't go away and that is what causes this. I am grateful for the information you gave me. Thank you.

Virginia Spine Institute in Reston Virginia. They see people from all over

marialyce...thank you so much for this information! I was hoping to find someplace near to me and this is not far at all. It is very difficult to travel.
Do you know much about this practice or are there any particular docs there to ask for?
Again thank you so much!