Lumbar radiculopathy, also known as “pinched nerve”, or “sciatica”, usually occurs when one of the spinal nerves exiting the spinal cord in the low back gets irritated or compressed. This can cause muscle weakness and pain that radiates into the buttock, upper thigh, leg, and/or foot and ankle regions. Lumbar radiculopathy can be either chronic or acute. With this condition, the leg pain is typically much worse than the low back pain. Specific areas of the leg and/or foot that are affected depends on which nerve in the low back is affected. Compression of higher lumbar nerve roots such as L2, L3 and L4 can cause radicular pain into the front of the thigh and the shin, where as compression of the lower lumbar and sacral nerve roots Such as L5, S1, and S2 can cause radicular pain into the back of the thigh, leg and foot.
Radicular pain radiates into the lower extremity directly along the affected spinal nerve root. The most common symptom of radicular pain is sciatica, causing pain radiating across the sciatic nerve into the back of the thigh and calf into the foot. Sciatica is one of the most common forms of pain caused by compression of a spinal nerve in the low back. It often will be caused by compression of the lower spinal nerve roots (L5 and S1). Chronic lumbar radiculopathy is often related to the normal aging and degenerative process that causes “wear and tear” changes in the spine, such as arthritis.
As the discs in the spine age, they lose water content and height and may begin to bulge. As the discs lose height and stiffen, the vertebrae move closer together. This can lead to the formation of bone spurs, further increasing stiffness in the spine. Eventually, this leads to the narrowing of the small openings on each side of the spinal column where the nerve roots exit and causes pinching of the nerve root – leading to chronic lumbar radiculopathy.
A herniated disc occurs when the inner jelly-like substance (nucleus pulposus) pushes out against the outer portion (annulus fibrosus). When the herniated disc bulges out toward the spinal canal, it puts pressure on the spinal nerve root, leading to lumbar radiculopathy, causing pain and weakness in the area that the nerve supplies.
What Can Cause Lumbar Radiculopathy?
- Disc herniation with nerve compression (most common)
- Foraminal spinal stenosis
- Diabetes
- Nerve root injuries
- Scar tissue from previous spinal injury
The Most Common Signs & Symptoms of Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Radiating pain into the buttock, upper thigh, leg, and/or foot and ankle regions
- Tingling and “pins and needles” in the leg, foot or ankle
- Muscle weakness in the muscles of the hip, upper thigh, leg, foot and ankle
- Impaired sensation
(Source: Spine Health)
What Are the Treatments for Lumbar Radiculopathy?
Marcel Jacobs PT provides a hands-on physical therapy approach which means you’re going to get fast access to immediate care in order to soothe and relax those tight and aching muscles, mobilize and loosen those restricted and painful joints, and strengthen your body so that you can go back to doing the things that you love. Your therapist will perform a thorough physical examination and evaluation in order to provide you with a deeper understanding of your impairments, compensations, and dysfunctions. You may find yourself having your concerns eased, questions answered, and physical pain reduced inside of 45 minutes with your physical therapist.
