The raidating pain sounds like it is related to your conditions. It is called sciatica.

If you feel way worse with the exercises... I would inform your PT and stop doing the. You may feel better if you modify your current exercises and start a little slower. If you are able to... build up to the current exercises that you are doing.

If you are experiencing sciatica and spasms.... STOP! this needs to rest and probably be medicated before you continue withwhat you are doing. Ignoring it will only make it worse.

Please take care and listen to your body. HUGS to you!

The piles are getting easier to do now that I do them everyday, but in therapy I notice that I often get 'charlie horses' and the like. Also, I was on predisone for awhil which helped my upper back out tremendously and since I have stopped, the pain is back. Pretty sure inflamation is the culprit.

So, it's called sciatica? I'll be sure to google more information about it. Thanks!

I would definitely stop the exercising until you talk to your therapist. After 20+ years of ddd and 4 back surgeries, I only started getting that radiating pain a down my thigh and into my knee a couple of years ago. I thought I pulled a muscle, but it was another ruptured disc higher up the spine. Tramadol and Neurontin finally helped, but now that pain has been replaced by extreme weakness in that leg. Most exercises aggravate my symptoms, so I would definitely be specific when talking to your PT, who I hope can give you exercises that work for you. Good luck!

I have DDD and a protrosion with an annular tear. dr said my protrusion is not hitting any nerves, so I do not know why you have leg pain. My pain radiates down my legs in multiple areas, the front, sides and back of thighs, into my knees, and even all the way into my toes. My dr ruled out sciatica because sciatica only sends pain down the back of the leg, not in the front. Is your pain in the front or back? My chiro told me that a nerve might actually be pinched because when you do the MRI, ur lying down and thats when your in least pain. I hope this helps in some way. I also, noticed doing PT was making me worse. Along wit my grandmother who also had DDD. PT doesnt work for everyone and this notion that the drs have in their heads that itll fix everyone..is wrong. hope yo
u feel better.

Definitely stop exercising until you see your therapist. As SuperDuck said, you now have sciatica, and that is very painful. This is caused by a disc that is either bulging or herniated and is pushing on the sciatic nerve. Or there are other things that can cause sciatica too, but the discs are the most common. So stop the exercises until you talk to the therapist.

In the meantime, PUT ICE on the lower back -- ice it for 20 minutes every 2 hours. This will help with the pain. Even tho the pain is in the legs, it's STARTS in the lower back so this should help. Don't put the ice directly on the skin. Make sure it's over light clothing and the ice is wrapped in a towel.

Your doctor can give you medication for the burning type pain of sciatica if it doesn't stop soon. There IS therapy for sciatica too --- pool therapy is good for sciatica, if your therapy place has a pool.
They will know what's best for you.

I wish you the very best. I've had sciatica for many many years, and it's pretty awful. God bless and please take care. Hugs, Lee