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        One thing I am wondering is:  Is there anyway to differentiate between a lower back sprain/strain and lower back problems due to an inflammatory arthritis involvement?         During the PT for my rt knee scope this summer I started having a stabbing pain from my hip down to my lower leg.  At first I thought it was my hip with referral down to my calf - or maybe an inflammed tendon or muscle.  But it is definately in my lower back since that area now gets sore and stiff at times esp when standing or walking for longer times.  Mornings are also worse which makes me wonder.         The sciatica involvement appears to have gotten worse since I now get tingling sensations down my leg.         Since this developed during PT I figured it was some sort of injury from using some back muscles I hadn't used in a long time.  Now I am not sure.         One weird thing I have noticed is when I am lying on my back with my knees up and I lift my head up (moving my chin towards my chest) I also get the pain through my hip to my calf.  My back is still at the time.  Any thoughts? Thanks. Ron

Thanks. Ron Good Luck! Ray T.

   One thing I am wondering is:  Is there anyway to differentiate between a lower back sprain/strain and lower back problems due to an inflammatory arthritis involvement?    During the PT for my rt knee scope this summer I started having a stabbing pain from my hip down to my lower leg.  At first I thought it was my hip with referral down to my calf - or maybe an inflammed tendon or muscle.  But it is definately in my lower back since that area now gets sore and stiff at times esp when standing or walking for longer times.  Mornings are also worse which makes me wonder.        The sciatica involvement appears to have gotten worse since I now get tingling sensations down my leg.    Since this developed during PT I figured it was some sort of injury from using some back muscles I hadn't used in a long time.  Now I am not sure.    One weird thing I have noticed is when I am lying on my back with my knees up and I lift my head up (moving my chin towards my chest) I also get the pain through my hip to my calf.  My back is still at the time.  Any thoughts? Thanks. Ron Susan Hoch                     This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it    

Ron, I have OA in hips and lower back.  My orthopedic surgeon told me that if the pain goes from the hip to the knee, it's caused by hip problems (in my case, significant cartilage deterioration); if the pain goes from the back, down the leg, past the knee, then it's the back.  My back has been strained many times.  If I rest it and use a heating pad, the symptoms will go away in a few days.  With OA, the symptoms do not go away