What is Lumbar Radiculopathy?
Lumbar Radiculopathy is a condition in which patients experience pain and inflammation due to the compression of a spinal nerve root, along the lower back or lumbar spine. This pain will often radiate down the sciatic nerve, running down one or both legs from the lower back - often called sciatica.
Symptoms
Lumbar Radiculopathy can manifest itself in a variety of different ways. Symptoms include:
Causes
Lumbar radiculopathy occurs as a result of the compression of nerve roots in the lumbar spine. While these nerves are quite sensitive, they become irritated due to a variety of different reasons, mainly some type of injury or trauma. Injuries which cause lumbar radiculopathy include:
- Spinal Stenosis – Narrowing of the spinal canal puts pressure on the nerve roots.
- Lumbar Disc Herniation
- Spondylolisthesis
- Foraminal Stenosis – Narrowing within the spinal canal as a result of an enlarged joint within the spine.
- Bone Spurs (Osteophytes) Along the Spine
- Overall Disc Degeneration
Treatment
Non-Surgical Options
For less severe lumbar radiculopathy, certain interventional treatments may help reduce pain as well as inflammation.
- Pain Medication – OTC and Prescription
- NSAID’s (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)
- Epidural Steroid Injections
- Physical Therapy – Exercises can improve spinal flexibility and help relieve tension on the nerve roots.
Surgical Options
Depending on the cause of your particular lumbar radiculopathy, a number of different surgical options are available. These procedures are generally performed to decompress the nerve root, as well as stabilize the spine – decompression surgery, as well as spinal fusion. These procedures include:
For more information on your treatment options, or to schedule a consultation, contact Dr. Varma today.
- Lumbar Microdiscectomy
- Lumbar Spinal Fusion Surgery
- Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)
- Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF)
- Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)
- Lumbar Laminectomy
