Your patient comes into your office stating she is experiencing a lot of pain in her back and leg. She is 45 years old, slightly overweight but in otherwise good health. She states she started to feel discomfort in her buttock region a few months ago. She took it easy for awhile and tried to control the pain with asprin. The pain got progressively worse and now has spread to the back and outside of her left leg and along the outside of her left foot.
Examination reveals a positive response to straight leg raise test.
Hip flexion and knee extension are normal but movements of the ankle and foot seem to be affected. You find plantar flexion and pronation very weak with dorsiflexion and supination somewhat weak. Hip abduction is also somewhat weak. Use your Segmental Innervation Chart to determine the site of the disc herniation. The pain she is feeling has progressed from being localized in her gluteal region.