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What is radiculopathy/sciatica?

Radiculopathy refers to symptoms produced by the pinching of a nerve root in the spinal column. Sciatica is the most common type of it.

In sciatica, the pain starts in the lower back and radiates through the buttocks and down through the leg. In some cases, the pain may also extend from to the foot or toes.

Causes and Risk Factors

Sciatica results from any condition that irritates the root or roots of the lower lumbar and lumbosacral spine. It can be due to:

– Lumbar spinal stenosis
– Spondylolisthesis
– Degenerative disk disease
– Muscle spasm
– Pregnancy

Your risk of developing sciatica increases with the following factors:

– Age
– Being overweight
– Smoking
– Wearing high heels
– Driving for long periods
– Lifting heavy things
– Having diabetes

Diagnosing and Treating Sciatica

If your doctor suspects you have sciatica, you will undergo a thorough physical exam where your reflexes and muscles will be checked. Your doctor may try you to do some activities to see where the pain’s coming from.

Imaging tests may be done if there is severe pain from sciatica. This may include tests like X-ray, CT scan, MRI, and electromyography.

Most cases of sciatica get better after several weeks of self-care. You may find relief from doing hot/cold packs, taking over-the-counter medications, and modifying some activities so as not to aggravate the pain.

If your pain is not improving, your doctor may recommend other treatments such as different types of medications (e.g. muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories) and steroid injections.

When pain becomes so debilitating for so long and if there’s some loss of bowel or bladder control, your doctor may recommend surgery. The procedure involves the removal of the bone spurs and herniated disk that’s compressing the nerve.

Sciatica pain can greatly affect your quality of life. Call us so we can look into your condition and help you find the most suitable treatment option.