In lumbar disc disease, the discs are stretched and compressed, which may cause severe pain in the buttocks and lower back area. Many patients with lumbar disc disease will experience muscle spasms in these areas, especially the buttocks. They will also report numbness, tingling, or even weakness in these areas. Some patients will also find that they experience a feeling of extreme pain when they bend or move their legs. These symptoms can occur after a small injury, such as falling down, during pregnancy, or while standing up from a chair or desk.
What Is Lumbar Radiculopathy?
Lumbar Radiculopathy (LRR) refers to degenerative disease involving the lower lumbar nerve roots. This may manifest as leg pain, numbness, weakness, or aching in the lower back and buttock area. This condition is often associated with sciatica.
Sciatica, on the other hand, is a condition where there is pressure exerted on the sciatic nerve by vertebral discs and other structures in the spine. The discs that are usually at fault for sciatica can also be the cause of sciatic pain.
The most common symptom of lumbar radiculopathy is a painful or burning sensation in the buttock area. There may also be pain or irritation when walking or performing activities.
Lumbar disc disease is one of the leading causes of chronic low back pain in the United States. About five million people suffer from this type of back problem each year. A majority of these patients will never seek treatment because they don’t want to believe they have a disc issue that needs medical attention. The fact is, a lumbar disc can deteriorate, which means the back pain can worsen over time without proper treatment.
What is radiculopathic spinal disc disease? What is it and how does it happen? When a disc becomes irritated, inflamed, narrowed, or degenerated, it can cause pain and pressure to the nerves, muscles, and discs in the body. These discs then begin to weaken and deform, resulting in pain and even a pinched nerve.
Lumbar Radiculopathy Treatments
There are several ways to treat lumbar disc disease, such as physical therapy, exercise, chiropractic care, and surgery. Most doctors will recommend a combination of both. However, in order to get the best results, a combination is recommended. This will give you relief from both the initial pain and the complications brought about by this condition.
The main goal of treating lumbar disc disease is to restore the affected nerves, muscles, and discs. It is important to maintain proper function in the lower back and prevent further damage from occurring. Once the disc has been treated, the next step is to relieve the nerve and muscle inflammation caused by the disorder.
Other Treatments
Physical therapy is used to improve the strength and flexibility of the lumbar spinal disc. In addition, exercises are often done to strengthen the back muscles and improve circulation.
Chiropractic care is often used for radiculopathic spinal disc disease. This type of care involves an acupuncturist or chiropractor working with the patient’s back and spine. In the past, the patient would have to visit the doctor and wait until he or she was feeling better before getting back in the chair. Today, many patients come home after a visit to have their problems discussed by a skilled chiropractor before going back to work.
Surgery is sometimes done for this condition but should be approached with caution. While there are many reasons why you may need to have surgery performed, surgery should only be performed if all other methods of treatment have been ineffective or if you have had surgery before.
If you are suffering from lumbar spinal disc disease, talk to a specialized minimally invasive neurosurgeon at MINT today to know more about what treatments you can get!
