Lumbar radiculopathy is becoming a common symptom among adults. It is likely to affect 3 to 5% of adults in their lifetime. Despite this condition being treatable, recognizing the symptoms of it can help you seek expert support and obtain appropriate treatment sooner. While most cases of lumbar radiculopathy heal without surgery, conservative measures such as physical therapy and injections can alleviate pain. Physical therapists devise treatment plans to assist patients in lowering pain and resuming normal mobility. Here is everything you need to know about lumbar radiculopathy.
What is Lumbar Radiculopathy?
Lumbar radiculopathy is pain that radiates from your low back down into your leg. It can feel like a sharp shooting pain, pins and needle sensation, or burning pain. These types of symptoms are common when your nerve root is compressed, leading to radiculopathy. Compression of the spinal nerve occurs for various reasons, including herniated and degenerated disks or spinal stenosis.
The lower back is the lumbar area of the spine, more specifically, it’s the area of the spine between your diaphragm and the sacrum. The lumbar spine is one of the most affected parts of the spine because it bears the most significant weight. The weight leads to the compression of the disks over time, putting the nerve roots at risk of irritation from other types of spinal issues.
Lumbar radiculopathy is caused by compression of the nerve root in the spine’s lower back(lumbar), resulting in nerve pain that radiates down the legs. Facet arthritis, osteoarthritis, and disc protrusions are also causes of lumbar radiculopathy.
Symptoms of Lumbar Radiculopathy
Here are some of the symptoms to watch out for:
- Paresthesia, tingling or numbness down into the leg
- Radiating pain in the lower back, hips, and legs
- Difficulty bending or rotating the back
- Rare shooting pain
- Weakness of the muscles in the leg or foot
- Limping when walking
Not everyone with lumbar radiculopathy will experience immediate symptoms. Others may take longer and only discover the condition when testing for other issues.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for lumbar radiculopathy are tasks that impose an excessive or repeated strain on the spine. People who engage in contact sports or heavy labor are more likely to develop lumbar radiculopathy than those leading a sedentary lifestyle. Other risk factors include:
- Back injuries
- Obesity
- Smoking
- History of back trauma
Treatment for Lumbar Radiculopathy
Several treatment options are available for anybody suffering from lumbar radiculopathy, including:
- Lifestyle Changes: A doctor may recommend specific physical activities like stretching.
- Physical Therapy: Exercises specifically targeting the affected nerve root or chiropractic methods
- Medications: Steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, and muscle relaxants are all potential medications.
- Spinal Injections: Steroid injections directed at the affected area can help alleviate or reduce lumbar radiculopathy.
- Surgery: Surgery is typically the last option, mainly if the cause of the nerve root compression cannot be treated with medications, physical therapy or injections. For example, spinal stenosis is a possible cause of nerve root compression that may require surgery.
Benefits of Lumbar Radiculopathy Treatment
Many of our patients benefit from non-surgical treatment for lumbar radiculopathy in the following ways:
- Improved mobility in the back and hip area
- Removal of burning, stinging, or numbness in the hips and legs
- Improved sleep due to reduced pain when sleeping in specific postures
- Restoration of the normal strength to the feet, toes, and leg region
The Bottom Line
First State Spine provides individualized care to diagnosis the cause of your radiculopathy and develops a treatment plan based on your symptoms. Please fill out the form below to contact us for an effective and reliable comprehensive evaluation.
