lumbar radiculopathy - Sports Zone
Radiculopathy is caused by a pinched nerve in your spine. It can happen in your neck (cervical), midback (thoracic) or lower back (lumbar). Lumbar radiculopathy is one of the most common complaints evaluated by a spine surgeon.
Understanding the Context
Its prevalence has been estimated to be 3%-5% of the population, affecting both men and women. Age is a primary risk factor, as it occurs secondary to the degenerative process within the spinal column. Radiculopathy can have different symptoms and different names depending on where in the spine it occurs. When radiculopathy occurs in the lower back, it is known as lumbar radiculopathy, also referred to as sciatica because nerve roots that make up the sciatic nerve are often involved.
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Key Insights
Explore lumbar radiculopathy causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and modern treatment options, including surgical indications and advanced imaging. When radiculopathy develops in your lower back, it’s called lumbar radiculopathy. Lumbar radiculopathy is very common and is estimated to occur in 3% to 5% of people at some point in... Clinicians face complex decisions when treating patients with lumbar radiculopathy. This article provides evidence-based strategies to improve diagnosis and guide effective treatment.
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Lumbar radiculopathy is one of the most impactful patterns within the broader spectrum of low back pain (LBP). What is lumbar radiculopathy? Lumbar radiculopathy is a painful condition that happens when a nerve in your lumbar spine (lower back) is pinched or irritated. What causes lumbar radiculopathy? You may get a pinched nerve in your lumbar spine if you have disc damage. Symptoms of lumbar radiculopathy frequently include pain and numbness extending from the spinal nerve root location on the lower back, down to the legs or feet.
The pain and numbness usually worsens after sitting or walking for a long period of time.