Are you dealing with radiating, pulsing or shooting pain that begins in your lower back and travels into your buttocks, hips or down your legs? If so, know that you’re not alone. Countless Americans deal with shooting discomfort that originates in their lower spine. In instances where symptoms develop as a result of lumbar nerve compression, the condition is known as lumbar radiculopathy or radiculitis. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at why this radiating discomfort can develop and how Dr. Jackman and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute can help you overcome lumbar radiculopathy.
Lumbar Radiculopathy – Causes And Symptoms
As we noted in the introduction, lumbar radiculopathy develops when a spinal nerve root becomes compressed or damaged as it exits the spine. It can develop for a number of different reasons, only some of which are preventable. Some of the most common reasons for lumbar nerve compression to develop include:
- Natural spinal disc or joint degeneration
- Narrowing of the spinal canal through which these nerves pass (stenosis)
- Acute injury
- Poor posture habits
- Repetitive stress on the lower back
Additionally, certain risk factors can put you at an increased risk for developing lumbar nerve compression. Those factors include being overweight or obese, smoking and living a sedentary lifestyle. Work-related stress is also a common factor in patients who develop lumbar radiculopathy. Truck drivers, certain machine operators and anyone who does a fair amount of bending and lifting will want to take extra precautions to protect their back against nerve impingement.
Symptoms of radiculitis include localized pain, shooting discomfort that travels down your buttocks, hips, thighs and legs, inhibited gait, decreased lower body flexibility and numbness or tenderness in the region.
Diagnosing And Treating Radiculitis
If you’re dealing with shooting discomfort in your lower spine that is making movement or everyday tasks difficult, don’t just grit your teeth and try to push on with your day. In most instances, nerve compression will only intensify if ignored, but on the flip side, nerve issues tend to respond positively to some simple protective interventions. Instead of doing nothing and allowing the issue to worsen, take a few easy steps to calm your irritated nerve.
The first step in the process will involve connecting with your primary care provider or a spine specialist to figure out what’s going on in your spine. They’ll likely be able to diagnose nerve compression based on a physical assessment and your description of symptoms, but they may opt to get a closer look at your spine with the help of an imaging test like an X-ray, MRI, CT scan or ultrasound. These tests can help to pinpoint the precise location of the compression so that the perfect treatment plan can be developed.
In the vast majority of cases, your doctor will first attempt to treat the problem with the help of a combination of conservative treatments. Some of the more common treatments they may recommend include anti-inflammatory medications, controlled exercise, physical therapy, hot/cold therapy, massage therapy and adjustments to diet, exercise or posture habits. Most patients see a significant or total alleviation of their symptoms through these treatments and lifestyle modifications.
In rare instances where more hands-on care is needed, your doctor may be able to perform additional treatments including corticosteroid injections or even a surgical procedure. Following these techniques, you’ll likely be asked to pursue many of the previously listed conservative techniques to protect and strengthen your lower back during your recovery period. Decompressive surgical techniques typically yield great results, but many patients achieve enough symptom relief that operative care is not necessary.
Don’t accept that shooting back pain is your new normal. Instead, confront your discomfort and put an end to these symptoms. For professional assistance overcoming your spinal discomfort, reach out to Dr. Jackman and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
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