Scar tissue around nerves called arachnoiditis, often occurs after surgery. Impaired sensory perception is a common problem leading to chronic pain. It is well documented that, not unlike ankle sprains, back injuries interfere with sensory feedback mechanisms in the low back. Each level of the lumbar spine has nerves that correspond to an area in the lower half of the body. It is not unusual to have an aching toe or a pain in the knee when back pain is present.
Many times there is no pain in the back and just in the leg.
This type of pain is called referred pain. Another term that is often used is radiculopathy. Referred pain typically does not cause neurological changes such as weakness and decreased sensation. A radiculopathy specifically refers to nerve damage. The nerves that innervate your muscles and skin correspond to certain areas on your body.