Understanding Lumbar radiculopathy: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Lumbar radiculopathy

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

Additional names

This group contains additional names: - Radiculopathy of lumbar region

General

Lumbar radiculopathy is irritation or inflammation of a nerve root in the low back. With lumbar radiculopathy, nerve roots in the low back become irritated, which leads to pain and symptoms that spread out from the back down one or both legs. The condition is often called sciatica, because the sciatic nerve is commonly involved. Some of the causes for lumber radiculopathy are: aging, injury, poor posture, extra body weight, and other issues.

111 people with Lumbar radiculopathy

Learn from others who are experiencing Lumbar radiculopathy.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms for lumbar radiculopathy may include pain in the low back, muscle spasm, numbness, or muscle weakness that travels into the buttocks, groin, hip, or leg.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of lumber radiculopathy is done by asking you about your clinical condition and complaints, then performing a physical examination. If the healthcare provider suspects lumber radiculopathy then he or she may refer you to MRI, CT scans, and/or contrast myelography.

Treatment

The core of lumber radiculopathy treatment is pain relieve. This includes: over-the-counter pain medicines, limits on position and activities that increase pain, physical therapy, steroid injection into the lower back, and losing weight if in overweight.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

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