Lumbar Radiculopathy/Sciatica

Lumbar Radiculopathy is a problem in the lower back, where a nerve root that is connected to the sciatic nerve, is compressed or irritated. Sciatica describes the leg pain the stems from the lower back, down one side of the buttocks and through the back of the leg. The person commonly feels numbness, weakness, or tingling in the back of the leg and maybe even the foot.  

Causes of Sciatica:

• Lumbar herniated disc
• Lumbar spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Spondylolisthesis
• Spondylosis
• Pregnancy
• Scar tissue
• Muscle strain
• Spinal tumor
• Infection in the lower back

Symptoms of Sciatica:

• Pain in the buttock and/or leg that is often worse when sitting
• Burning, tightness, tingling, and weakness down the back of the leg
• A constant pain in one buttocks
• A shooting pain from the lower back or buttocks moving down the back of the leg

Treatments:

• Heat/Ice in beginning stages of sciatica
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Epidural steroid injections
• Acupuncture
• Massage Therapy
• Physical Therapy and exercises
• For severe nerve compression there are several surgical options