Resolved question:
My husband is a triathlete. Hoping to run his 30th marathon next Sunday to qualify for Boston. He experienced back pain last week while active. Fine when resting. The past few days he has had numbness tingling burning in calf and foot primarily big toe when walking. Can't run. Doc is doing MRI tomorrow. Diagnosis is lumbar neuritis. Put on prednisone pack for 10 days. Any idea when prednisone will kick in? Any thoughts to what may be causing this? I have a lot of anxiety that it is a tumor. Any chance he could be running by next Sunday?
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Spine Surgeon
Hello,
Thank you for asking your query at DoctorSpring.
Prednisone will help in the resolve the inflammation and oedema which might be compressing the nerves. It’s action will start within few hours and the patient might see some benefit in a day. However it will only address the oedema and inflammation and will not treat the primary problem which is causing the lumbar neuritis.
The back pain + tingling suggests a possible never involvement in form of a pinched nerve. This could be due to disc bulge or strain. ( Most common cause). The symptomatology is not suggestive of tumour, so no need to worry. Anyway let’s wait for MRI – which will give a definitive diagnosis.
Chances that he could be running next Sunday ? – Your Doctor will be able suggest you best. However I feel he might need some rest for a week and followed by restricted physical activity for some time depending on the MRI finding.
Hope this helps
Please feel free to ask followup questions.