When back pain begins to affect your quality of life, it’s essential to identify and treat the cause of your discomfort. For patients with back and leg pain, lumbar radiculopathy is often at the center of their symptoms.
What Is Lumbar Radiculopathy?
Understanding any back condition or disorder requires some basic anatomy regarding the spine and its construction. The human spine exists in three primary segments – the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar.
The lumbar spine is considered the lower back and extends from the bottom of the ribs to the upper portion of the pelvic region. This area supports a large majority of your upper body weight and encases the spinal cord, serving as an exit for the nerves of the spine.
Lumbar radiculopathy, more commonly known as sciatica, is the pain caused by the compression of these nerves as they exit the lumbar spine and travel into the leg. Many people develop this condition due to spinal stenosis, a herniated disc, and other spine and nerve-related issues.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Effectively communicating your symptoms is vital for diagnosing any type of back and leg pain. Individuals who suffer from lumbar radiculopathy typically experience a burning or stinging pain that radiates from the hip and into the buttocks area, then down the leg on one side of the body.
A complete physical examination combined with an MRI may identify areas of concern. Nerve conduction studies may also be ordered to determine the scope of potential nerve damage.
Therapy Options
Multiple options exist for treating lumbar radiculopathy that don’t require surgery. Consider the following options for treatment:
- Physical therapy
- Anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants
- Corticosteroid injections, nerve blocks, and nerve ablations are effective injection treatments
- Orthobiologic/Cell-therapy treatments for chronic radiculopathy
One of these options, or a combination of several, can provide significant benefits for lumbar radiculopathy and eliminate the need for surgery.
Benefits of Lumbar Radiculopathy Treatment
By choosing a non-surgical remedy for lumbar radiculopathy, most of our patients experience the following benefits:
- Increased mobility in the hip and back area
- Elimination of the stinging, burning or numbing in the buttocks and leg
- The return or normal strength to the toes, feet, and leg area
- Eliminating any limping or limited range of motion on the side of the nerve pain
- Better rest as a result of decreased pain while sleeping in certain positions
A Reliable Treatment Source
When you’re experiencing pain because of lumbar radiculopathy, it’s essential to have a reliable treatment team to guide your recovery. At First State Spine, we specialize in treating conditions like lumbar radiculopathy, both non-surgically and surgically if necessary. Fill out the form below to contact us and find out how we can help you ease the discomfort of sciatic nerve pain.
