Lumbar Radiculopathy

About Lumbar Radiculopathy

Lumbar radiculopathy usually is a condition that occurs after you’ve had lower back pain for a while. By ignoring the initial symptoms that caused your discomfort, you risk developing this painful pinched nerve condition. Don’t hesitate to call on the spine doctors at the Spine & Rehab Group for a complete exam when back pain begins. And if you do need treatment for lumbar radiculopathy or surgery for lumbar radiculopathy, you’re in the best hands.

What Is Lumbar Radiculopathy?

Lumbar radiculopathy describes a range of symptoms that occur due to compression or inflammation of a lumbar spinal nerve root exiting the spine at levels L1 to S4. The lower back is highly mobile and any changes in the structure can cause referred pain and other symptoms. Millions of people struggle with back pain and leg pain because of such spinal conditions.

The symptoms affect your quality of life by inhibiting your capacity to do daily tasks. Damage to any part of the lumbar spine can lead to sudden structural changes, causing compression of the spinal nerve roots. This leads to symptoms of lumbar radiculopathy.

Effective lumbar radiculopathy treatment depends on an early and correct diagnosis. Dr. Amr Hosny and the highly trained spine specialists at the Spine & Rehab Group in New York City and northern New Jersey use the latest technology to diagnose the point of your pain. Then they can offer effective treatment.

What Causes Lumbar Radiculopathy?

Due to age, disease or injury, conditions develop in your lumbar spine that cause lower back pain and other symptoms. Lumbar radiculopathy develops if these conditions aren’t treated promptly, and you end up with compression or irritation of your spinal nerves in the lumbar spine. Some spinal conditions that can lead to radiculopathy in the lumbar spine include:

• Degeneration from wear and tear, often occurring from aging or arthritis
• Lumbar or lower back sprain
• Spinal bone spurs
• A bulging disc in your lower spine
• Lumbar disc herniation
• Damage to a lumbar spine disc because of injury
• Spinal bone fractures
• Degenerative disc disease in the lumbar spine
• A thickening of the spinal ligaments
• Osteophyte formation
• Spondylolisthesis
• Lumbar stenosis
• Diseases such as diabetes and vascular conditions
• Benign or malignant tumors
• An unstable spine or a congenital spinal disorder that causes a spine deformity
• Infections, such as osteodiscitis, osteomyelitis, epidural abscess or fungal infections

Any activities that exert significant and sustained pressure on your lower back put you at risk of lumbar radiculopathy. Some people are more susceptible to the condition than others. Factors that make you more vulnerable to lumbar radiculopathy include:

• Genetics. A family history of herniated discs and other structural spine issues makes you more susceptible.
• Health. Obesity is a health risk for lumbar disorders because of the extra pressure the weight puts on your lower spine.
• Work. If you have a physically demanding career, such as service in the military or using heavy power tools, you’re prone to degeneration and injury to your back.
• Age. If you’re aged 30 to 50 years old, you’re more prone to lumbar spine degeneration.
• Sport. Extreme sports put you more at risk of a spinal injury.

What Are the Symptoms of Lumbar Radiculopathy?

Symptoms of lumbar radiculopathy vary, depending on the location of the nerve roots that have been compressed. If you experience regular lower back discomfort, look for symptoms of lumbar radiculopathy. Consult with a spine doctor like Dr. Hosny for diagnosis and treatment at the first sign of lower back pain. Symptoms of lumbar radiculopathy include:

• Pain, tingling and numbness in your legs
• Radicular pain, which is the sensation of electrical shock or shooting pains that radiate from your buttocks to your feet
• Weakness and reflex loss in your legs
• A sharp pain in the low back, arms or legs that worsens with some physical activities
• Muscle spasms

In some cases, you won’t feel any pain accompanying lumbar radiculopathy, but you may experience flare-ups. This is why you need a diagnosis that allows for immediate treatment to avoid further damage to the nerve roots. If you ignore the problem or mask the pain, your condition likely worsens over time.

What’s the Treatment for Lumbar Radiculopathy?

Your spine specialist finds the best radiculopathy lumbar region treatment based on the examination and diagnostic results. Interventional treatment aims to reduce pain, restore full function of your lower back and offer a permanent solution to the pain and discomfort. Lumbar radiculopathy treatments may include:

• Weight loss strategies
• Physical therapy and exercises designed to stabilize your spine
• Medications for pain relief that also reduce inflammation, such as analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Lumbar epidural steroid injections
• Lumbar radiculopathy surgery to reduce the pressure on the nerve root, but usually as the last resort

The expert spine doctors at the Spine & Rehab Group recommend the most conservative treatment for radiculopathy after a thorough examination of your case. They use on surgery only when they’ve tried all other options. If you have lower back pain and other symptoms of lumbar radiculopathy, contact the spine specialists at one of their eight New York City and northern New Jersey locations for the most effective treatment for lumbar radiculopathy.