My back was not the part that worried me at first. The unusual sensation was deep in my buttock—a heavy numbness that sometimes continued into my leg. Because I did not have severe lower-back pain, I blamed exercise, long hours of sitting, or ordinary muscle stiffness.
I expected it to settle after a few days. Instead, it improved on some days and returned on others for close to a month. The discomfort was tolerable, but the repeated pattern finally made me wonder whether the problem was coming from a muscle, a joint, or a nerve.
I visited an orthopedic clinic in South Korea, where I underwent an examination and a lumbar MRI. The doctor explained that a disc at the L4–L5 level was irritating a nerve and could account for symptoms in my buttock and leg even though my back itself barely hurt.
The word “disc” immediately made me think about surgery. In my case, however, the doctor did not consider immediate surgery necessary. I started nonsurgical treatment with medication and a nerve block injection. The numbness improved but did not disappear, so I returned approximately two weeks later and received a second injection.
This is the sequence I actually experienced: nearly a month of recurring numbness, an MRI diagnosis, two injections about two weeks apart, and a gradual return to normal activity. It also taught me that the intensity of pain is not the only clue worth paying attention to after 50.
- Buttock and leg numbness continued for close to a month without severe back pain.
- A lumbar MRI showed an L4–L5 disc irritating a nerve.
- The doctor recommended medication and injection treatment rather than immediate surgery.
- The first injection helped gradually but left some numbness.
- I returned about two weeks later for a second injection and then noticed further improvement.
- The Numbness That Did Not Feel Like a Back Problem
- What the MRI Showed at a Korean Orthopedic Clinic
- What Happened After My First Nerve Block Injection
- Why I Returned for a Second Injection Two Weeks Later
- How I Returned to Sitting, Walking, and Exercise
- When Leg Numbness Should Not Be Watched at Home
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Numbness That Did Not Feel Like a Back Problem
I had experienced ordinary back stiffness before, especially after sitting for a long time. This episode felt different, although I did not recognize its significance immediately. The main symptom was a deep, heavy numbness in my buttock. At times, the discomfort seemed to extend toward my leg.
The location was one reason I waited. I wondered whether I had overused a muscle during exercise or remained in an awkward position for too long. Rest seemed like a reasonable first response. There were also days when the sensation eased enough to make me think it was resolving.
Then it returned. After nearly a month of that cycle, the duration began to concern me more than the intensity. I still did not have the dramatic back pain I had always associated with a herniated disc, but the repeated numbness no longer felt like ordinary fatigue.
That experience changed the question I asked myself. Instead of asking only, “How badly does it hurt?” I began asking, “Where does it start, where does it travel, and how long has it been returning?”
Buttock and leg symptoms can have more than one cause, so my symptom pattern alone could not identify a herniated disc. It was the reason I sought an examination, not a diagnosis I could make at home.
If my lower back had hurt severely, I probably would have sought care sooner. Because the numbness was mainly in my buttock and was not constant, I did not initially connect it with my lumbar spine. Persistence—not a sudden crisis—was what finally changed my decision.
What the MRI Showed at a Korean Orthopedic Clinic
My evaluation took place at an orthopedic clinic in South Korea. I described where the numbness began, how it sometimes continued toward my leg, and how it had returned repeatedly for close to a month. The doctor examined the symptomatic area and my leg before I underwent a lumbar MRI.
The doctor explained that a disc at the L4–L5 level was irritating a nerve. That finding offered a plausible explanation for why the problem had not felt like straightforward lower-back pain. The source could be in my lumbar spine even though the symptom that caught my attention was farther away.
The MRI result did not automatically lead to surgery. The doctor considered my symptoms, examination and imaging together and told me that immediate surgery was not necessary. The recommended first step was nonsurgical treatment with oral medication and a nerve block injection.
That distinction was reassuring. I had assumed that finding a herniated disc on an MRI would lead directly to a surgical decision. Instead, the image helped explain the symptom pattern while the treatment decision depended on more than the image alone.
What was Korean about my care—and what was not
The clinic visit, MRI, prescriptions and injections described here all took place in South Korea. That is my personal care path, not proof that every orthopedic clinic in Korea follows the same sequence.
The broader clinical principle is not uniquely Korean. English-language guidance also notes that MRI is not automatically needed for every new episode of uncomplicated lower-back pain. The duration and progression of symptoms, physical findings, neurological changes, warning signs and whether imaging would affect treatment all matter.
My experience should therefore not be read as advice that everyone with temporary back or buttock discomfort should request an MRI. In my case, the scan followed nearly a month of recurring buttock and leg symptoms and an in-person examination.
A scan can show spinal changes, but the image still has to be interpreted alongside the symptoms and examination. In my case, the MRI did not simply provide a label. It helped the doctor connect the L4–L5 finding with the numbness I had described.
What Happened After My First Nerve Block Injection
I was uneasy when the injection was first discussed. I had never thought much about spinal injections, and the word “nerve” made the treatment sound more alarming than the doctor’s explanation.
The first treatment included oral medication and what the clinic described as a nerve injection or nerve block. My prescription included medication for pain and inflammation, a muscle relaxant and medication intended to protect the stomach.
I expected the numbness to disappear quickly after the injection. That did not happen. During the first few days, I was unsure whether the treatment had made much difference. The heavy sensation then began to ease gradually, but some buttock and leg numbness remained.
That slower response corrected one of my assumptions. I had thought of an injection as an on-or-off treatment: either it worked immediately or it had failed. My experience was less dramatic. The useful change was that the numbness became less noticeable over time, even though it was not completely gone.
Why I use the term “nerve block injection”
In Korean clinics, patients may hear broad expressions such as singyeong jusa, literally “nerve injection,” or singyeong chadan-sul, often translated as “nerve block.” These patient-facing expressions do not necessarily identify one exact procedure in English.
English-language records may use more specific names based on where and how an injection is performed. Because my available record does not identify the complete procedural approach, I use “nerve block injection” as a practical translation. I do not relabel my treatment as an epidural steroid injection or a selective nerve root block without documentation supporting that exact term.
First injection record: dexamethasone, lidocaine and saline.
Second procedure record: lidocaine, saline and Omnipaque 300, an iohexol contrast agent.
These entries document products recorded during treatment, but they do not establish the exact injection approach or how every listed product was used.
The purpose of describing the record is not to suggest a drug combination for someone else. It is to separate what I can verify from what I remember hearing during treatment.
The injection was part of treatment for symptoms associated with an irritated nerve. A reduction in numbness did not prove that the disc material had been removed or that my spine had returned to its previous condition. Symptom relief and structural recovery are not the same thing.
Why I Returned for a Second Injection Two Weeks Later
Approximately two weeks after the first treatment, I was better but still aware of numbness in my buttock and leg. I returned to the same clinic and explained what had improved and what remained.
The second visit was not based on a belief that every herniated disc requires a fixed series of injections. It followed my partial response and the clinician’s reassessment of the remaining symptoms.
I was told that the second treatment would be performed a little more intensively than the first. I cannot translate that explanation into a precise difference in dose, needle position or technique. What I can say is that I received a second injection and that the treatment record was not identical to the first one.
After the second injection, the improvement became more noticeable. As time passed, I was less aware of the heavy sensation in my buttock and the discomfort extending into my leg. The change was not a dramatic moment when everything suddenly disappeared. I simply noticed the symptoms less often during ordinary daily activities.
That was meaningful progress for me, but I did not interpret it as proof that my spine was completely restored. I remained cautious about long periods of sitting and about returning too quickly to my previous exercise intensity.
Why I did not have surgery right away
I did not reject surgery or decide on my own that it was unnecessary. The doctor assessed my condition and recommended nonsurgical treatment first. My symptoms and examination did not lead to a recommendation for immediate surgery at that time.
Many lumbar disc problems can initially be managed without surgery, but that does not mean surgery is never necessary. Progressive weakness, severe persistent disability or symptoms suggesting serious nerve compression can change the decision. My experience reflects only the condition that was assessed in my case.
How I Returned to Sitting, Walking, and Exercise
Once the numbness became less noticeable, I began paying more attention to habits I had previously treated as harmless. I often spent long periods sitting and remained in the same position even after my back felt stiff.
I used to focus mainly on whether my posture looked correct. Now I place more value on avoiding one fixed position for too long. When I realize that I have been sitting for an extended period, I stand and move for a short time.
I do not follow a strict schedule or assume there is one perfect sitting interval for everyone. My practical rule is simply to interrupt long periods of inactivity before stiffness and discomfort build up.
Walking on level ground also became part of my return to activity. I did not force myself to complete a fixed distance or time target. I paid attention to whether the buttock or leg symptoms returned or became more noticeable. If they did, I reduced the amount rather than pushing through only to complete a number.
I also returned to exercise gradually. Less pain did not prove that the disc itself had returned to its earlier state. Instead of testing my back with my previous intensity, I increased activity in stages and watched how the symptoms responded afterward.
- Break up long periods of sitting with brief movement.
- Walk on level ground within a range that does not clearly aggravate symptoms.
- Reduce or modify activity if buttock or leg numbness increases.
- Build exercise intensity gradually instead of returning immediately to my old routine.
- Ask for individual guidance if a movement repeatedly worsens radiating symptoms.
I do not believe that one stretch or exercise is universally right for every herniated disc. The suitable movement, direction and load can differ according to the symptoms and physical findings. If an exercise repeatedly increases radiating pain, numbness or weakness, that response deserves attention rather than being dismissed as something to push through.
When Leg Numbness Should Not Be Watched at Home
My symptoms developed gradually and did not include the emergency signs below. Still, learning about them became an important part of understanding disc-related nerve problems.
Persistent discomfort deserves medical evaluation, but some neurological changes require more urgent attention. These include new or worsening weakness, numbness around the saddle area, and changes in bladder or bowel control.
- New or progressively worsening weakness in a leg
- Marked difficulty standing or walking
- Numbness around the inner thighs, buttocks or saddle area
- New difficulty urinating or inability to urinate
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
Those symptoms are different from ordinary stiffness and should not be managed by trying another online exercise or waiting for a routine appointment. Symptoms that continue to worsen or substantially limit normal activity also deserve reassessment, even if an MRI was performed earlier.
The main lesson I took from my experience was not that everyone should request an MRI or an injection. It was that pain location and intensity can be misleading. A problem in my lower spine first drew my attention through persistent buttock and leg numbness, not severe back pain.
Getting examined helped me understand the likely source. Observing what remained after the first treatment also gave me something specific to discuss at the follow-up visit. Since then, I have become less likely to judge a physical problem only by whether I can tolerate it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a herniated lumbar disc cause leg numbness without severe back pain?
It can. An irritated lumbar nerve may cause symptoms in the buttock or leg, including radiating pain, tingling or numbness. However, those symptoms can have other causes, so their location alone cannot confirm a disc problem.
Does every person with leg numbness need an MRI?
No. Imaging decisions depend on the symptom pattern, duration, progression, examination findings, neurological changes, warning signs and whether the result is likely to affect treatment. A clinician should determine whether and when imaging is appropriate.
Does a nerve block injection repair a herniated disc?
An injection may be used to reduce inflammation or symptoms around an irritated nerve, but symptom relief does not mean that the disc material has been removed. The expected benefit and appropriate procedure depend on the individual diagnosis and injection technique.
Is a second injection always given two weeks after the first?
No. Approximately two weeks was the interval in my treatment. Whether another injection is considered depends on the first response, remaining symptoms, diagnosis, procedure type, possible risks and the clinician’s reassessment.
Why not call the treatment an epidural steroid injection?
“Nerve injection” and “nerve block” are broad patient-facing expressions used in Korea. My available record does not identify enough procedural detail to match the treatment confidently to one specific English-language procedure, so I preserve the broader term.
My back barely hurt, but the numbness in my buttock and leg kept returning for close to a month. That persistence led me to a Korean orthopedic clinic, where an MRI showed an L4–L5 disc irritating a nerve.
Two nerve block injections did not create an instant recovery. The first brought partial improvement, and I returned about two weeks later because some numbness remained. After the second treatment, the symptoms gradually became less noticeable.
I now interrupt long periods of sitting, return to exercise gradually and pay attention when a symptom follows a repeated path. The most useful change was not becoming afraid of every ache. It was learning not to use pain intensity as my only measure of whether something deserves attention.