If you’ve ever experienced shooting pain down your leg from what feels like your lower back, you’ve likely been affected by sciatica or radiculopathy. Generally, sciatica is a term commonly used by patients to describe lumbar radiculopathy or a pinched lumbar spinal nerve in the lower back.
Although radiculopathy can be extremely painful, there’s good news: non-surgical, regenerative medicine can provide safe and effective relief for symptoms of radiculopathy. By seeking care and diagnosis from a regenerative medicine spine specialist, you can get targeted chronic back pain treatment that addresses the problem at its root.
Sciatica vs. Radiculopathy: Uncovering the Difference
Lumbar radiculopathy can result when the nerve root in the lower back becomes irritated or compressed. When this happens, it can cause pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the buttock and leg, all symptoms commonly associated with sciatica.
However, spine specialists only use the term “sciatica” to describe the actual pinching of the sciatic nerve (rather than the lumbar nerve), a peripheral nerve made up of several spinal nerve roots that start in the buttock region, not the back.
In fact, having a pinched sciatic nerve is quite rare, and according to Yale Medicine, it only affects about 10% of people with lower back pain, particularly those 40 or older.
Symptoms of Radiculopathy
While the causes of lower back, hip, and leg pain can vary, the other tell-tale symptoms of radiculopathy are generally consistent. Most commonly, these include:
- Numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness in the affected leg or foot: In addition to pain, radiculopathy can cause abnormal sensation or difficulty controlling the leg or foot due to nerve root compression.
- Pain triggered by coughing, sneezing, or straining: Actions that increase intra-abdominal pressure can exacerbate nerve pain caused by disc herniation in the lumbar spine.
- Radicular pain when sitting for long periods: Extended sitting, including driving, can increase nerve pain from the lumbar spine.
- Pain that is usually worse on one side: Radiculopathy usually impacts one leg on the side where the compressed nerve root is, though in some cases, pain can travel down both legs.
- Leg cramping or spasms in the calf, thigh, or foot muscles: Radiculopathy can be associated with painful muscle spasms in the leg.
Causes of Radiculopathy
Several factors can lead to a compressed or irritated lumbar spinal nerve. Most commonly, these include:
- Herniated disc: The disc between the lumbar vertebrae pushes out and inflames or damages the spinal nerve root. A herniated disc is the most common cause of radiculopathy.
- Degenerative disc disease: Discs lose height with age, and, in some cases, severe disc degeneration can create less space for nerves to exit, which can cause radiculopathy.
- Spinal stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal typically related to degenerative findings that cause compression of spinal nerves.
- Arthritis and bone spurs: Bony overgrowth typically associated with facet joint arthritis in the spine can compress nerves.
- Spondylolisthesis: Vertebral slippage can occur when a spinal fracture or arthritis places pressure on nerves.
- Spinal tumors or cysts: Abnormal masses are rare, but if they grow in or near the spinal cord or nerves, they can cause radiculopathy.
- Infection: Also unusual, swelling from infection near the nerve roots can cause radiculopathy.
Non-Surgical Back Pain Treatment Options for Radiculopathy
Initial non-surgical treatment focuses on relieving pain and inflammation through activity modification, over-the-counter medications, and ice and heat application. If pain persists, the next step is individualized physical therapy to reduce muscle spasms, improve the range of motion, and strengthen weak areas, including the core.
A physician may also recommend non-opiate prescription medications or epidural steroid injections for pain relief, especially if the pain is moderate to severe and limiting function. Ultimately, through a combination of conservative care and lower back pain therapies, most patients achieve relief from their radiculopathy.
Consult Specialists in Regenerative Medicine in Austin Today
If you’re experiencing symptoms of radiculopathy, such as pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness in the lower back, buttocks, or legs, it may be time to consult with one of the spine and musculoskeletal experts at the Center for Healing and Regenerative Medicine (CHARM).
The CHARM team combines physical medicine, physical therapy, and functional wisdom to provide you with the full-rounded care and expertise you need. If you’re ready to eliminate annoying radiculopathy pain, don’t wait to schedule your consultation today.
