Lumbar Radiculopathy (Sciatica)

Radiculopathy in general terms is often described as a 'pinched' or 'compressed' nerve or as 'nerve entrapment' or 'nerve root impingement'. The word 'radiculopathy' describes the loss of function related to a nerve root. Lumbar radiculopathy describes symptoms where it affects the hip, lower back and the legs – in some cases down to the foot. The other two types of radiculopathy that affect the spine are cervical radiculopathy which affects the neck area and much less common thoracic radiculopathy, which affects the middle section of the spine.

Causes:

The primary cause of lumbar radiculopathy is an irritation to one or more nerve roots arising from the spinal cord. This can in turn be caused by:

• Pressure on the nerve, often from an intervertebral disc bulging out from the spinal column (a 'herniated disc') or an 'osteophyte', which is a bony growth on the side of a vertebra.

• Swelling around the nerve root.

• Narrowing of the spinal column ('spinal stenosis').

• Degenerative disc disease ('spondylosis').

• Sideways curvature of the spine ('scoliosis').

• Scar tissue from previous surgery.

• Injury ('trauma')

In 90% of cases of lumbar radiculopathy, the primary cause is a herniated disc, and in many cases more than one of these causes is present.