I get lower back pain that radiates to my left leg. i can feel the pain right above the knee, all the way down in my foot as well. ?

A radiculopathy: Sounds like a lumbar/sacral nerve is being irritated. This gives you radiating pain from your low back down your posterior buttock and thigh to the foot. These radiculopathies can be painful the whole way down or at any descrete location along the course of the nerve. You can have pain, hot, cold , numbness, tingling , burning, or weakness. Get checked by your doctor.

Sounds like sciatica: This sounds like a typical case of a sciatica or pain radiating into the leg due to a nerve compression that can be due to a disc herniation usually but there can be other explanations. Generally this is true with pain that goes past the knee and can be confirmed on exam and by imaging with a ct scan or mri. Most get better without surgery.

You need to : See a orthopeidst or neurologist. This is sciatica or a radiculopathy. You don't want this getting any worse. Sometimes, an injection at the origin is recommended, othertimes a course of physical therapy, sometimes antiinflammatories and or short course of steroids. Pain is never good - have it checked out. Good luck.

Couple possibilities: Often called 'sciatica', generically, but has several potential causes.Most drs think of disc herniation, but other causes include minor disc tears w/out hernia, though commonly vertebral dysf. Or sacroiliac jt. Dysf., are at fault. A good history & phys incl hands-on osteopathic exam may reveal the cause.Osteopathic manipulation may cure the latter 2, but still be of help if other causes found.

Nerve irritation: The nerves in your back are getting irritated. A couple various reasons possible but probably a disk herniation. Go to an orthopedist and get options after an exam.