question: Hello Dr. Rynne, My Spine Specialists office has a young PA who gave me a 3 wk follow up exam after an ESI, L4 & L5 areas. I haven t noticed much difference in pain, however the sciatic pain in my gluteus muscle is a little less, although not non existent. There is rarely a sharp shooting pain down my entire leg into my foot, compared to every now and then before the injection. She said I confused her because so much of my pain is at the spine, and all the surrounding muscles (like a band), but there are plenty of sharp pains in that area, and they continue. She Opts for a test procedure next time (MBB) to see how much of my pain is coming from arthritis around the facets at L3,4,5,S1. How can she tell? I m in severe pain, especially upon standing & bending.