The Symptoms, Causes and Treatment of Lumbar Radiculopathy
Radiculopathy is when there is problem or disease that affects spinal nerve roots and cord causing unbearable pain. If you are suffering from lumbar radiculopathy, the most common symptom will pain in the sciatica nerve. This sciatic nerve is normally the source of the pain which is mostly referred to as sciatica pain, a result of lumbar Radiculopathy.The pain mostly shifts to the exterior part of the spine if the problems are not treated immediately. In this article we give you the correct cause, symptoms and lumbar Radiculopathy andSciatica treatment
Symptoms of Lumbar Radiculopathy
The Radiculopathy is primarily an irritation or compression of the lumbar nerve root at L4 or L5. Sciatica pain will be experienced as the result of aggravation or damage to the spine or the spine roots. The symptoms of Radiculopathy dependon the nerves that are affected. The cervical spine, thoracic spine, lumbar spine and the sciatica nerves, are the ones most affected in such cases. Those muscles have a direct contact with the affected sensory nerve roots and it tends to get weak. Most of the symptoms are:
• Pain
• Numbness
• Tingling in the arms, bottom, or leg.
• Hyper sensitivity to light touches
• Weakness in muscles where the affective nerve is present
If you get any of these symptoms you must visit a specialist who specializes in Sciatica treatment, to ensure that the problem is diagnosed and treated correctly.
Causes of Radiculopathy
To understand the Sciatica pain once must first understand the cause.There are many causes of lumbar Radiculopathy. The sciatic nerve pain is a signal that something is wrong at some point along the sciatic nerve, but not always at the nerve root where the nerve exits the spinal canal. Each cause can vary from person to person, depending on their lifestyle, working, and even something as small as daily habits. The pain causes are:
• A compressed nerve or irritation caused in the area.
• Thickening of ligaments around the nerves in the spinal cord.
• Infections
• Undetected tumor growth
• Scoliosis
• Diabetes
• Prior accidents
• Herniated disk
Treatment for Radiculopathy
There are many treatments for Radiculopathy and sciatica treatment. Once should always consult a professional to find out the best treatment for it. They include the following:
• Anti inflammatory medication
• Physical therapy
• Steroids in extreme cases of sciatica pain
• Non invasive medical procedures.
• Light exercises to stretch the muscles.
It is ideal to consult a spine specialist before you undertake any form of treatment. One must not indulge in any self medication or exercises without a proper consultation from the specialist. It is crucial that once you recognize the symptoms, you must get it treated. If left untreated, it may cause irreversible or permanent damage.
