{"id":7904,"date":"2019-07-05T07:15:29","date_gmt":"2019-07-05T07:15:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=7904"},"modified":"2021-04-20T14:48:16","modified_gmt":"2021-04-20T14:48:16","slug":"14-main-symptoms-of-lumbar-radiculopathy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-main-symptoms-of-lumbar-radiculopathy\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Main Symptoms of Lumbar Radiculopathy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The symptoms of lumbar radiculopathy can be difficult to pin down. That\u2019s because the back and especially the massive bundle of nerves run through the back, all go to different places in the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nerves that extend from the spinal cord travel to almost every other part of the body and cause different symptoms when they are compressed. That\u2019s exactly what lumbar radiculopathy is. It is when you have a pinched nerve in your spine. These can be caused by different things such as a slipped disc, sciatica or a variety of other conditions. But the symptoms that you experience can be wide and varied. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have tried to come up with some of the most common symptoms here so you can get a general idea of what to look for. But the fact is, a pinched nerve can cause symptoms anywhere and they present in a variety of ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Cervical radiculopathy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cervical radiculopathy, or a nerve in the neck or upper back getting compressed, is one of the symptoms of this particular condition. Most of the nerves that run through the spinal cord<\/a> extend from the lower back and on down throughout the body.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there are nerves that extend upward through the next, shoulders and other parts of the body including the upper back. That means when you have back or neck pain, it could be a sign that you are experiencing a pinched nerve down below but it is presenting as pain, tingling or numbness in the neck or upper back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your doctor will have to do an MRI to find out the exact cause and where the problem is coming from, but this can be a good clue that you are suffering from a pinched nerve. Whether that pinched nerve is in the upper back or the lower back will have to be determined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Weakness or Numbness in One Side<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You might notice that you have weakness <\/a>or numbness on one side of the body. This could be a weakness or numbness in the entire side of the body or a might only present in specific areas.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sciatic nerve runs from the lower back down into the hips and then runs along the back of both legs. What that means is that you can have a pinched nerve pretty high up your back and still experience symptoms well down below the site of the pinched nerve itself. That\u2019s why it is important to understand where the nerves in the back go in just how far they extend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have numbness in your leg or part of your leg, it could be due to a pinched nerve up higher in your back. The same goes for your arms, neck or any other part of the body. Weakness and numbness usually mean that there is a nerve somewhere that has gotten compressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Pain in the Neck, Back or Shoulders<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pain <\/a>is a pretty common experience with everyone. Our pain responses are quite extensive, so most people are used to feeling pain at various stages of life. Sometimes, you can sleep the wrong way and wake up with intense neck pain.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After you do particularly strenuous workouts or you pull a muscle due to some activity you could experience pain in your lower back. But that doesn\u2019t mean that you should rule out a pinched nerve up top if you are having pain in other areas of the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any pain you feel has to have some sort of cause, and pain in the neck, back or shoulders is often an indication that you have a pinched nerve somewhere along the spinal column due to one of the causes that we already discussed. You just have to figure out where the problem is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Thoracic Radiculopathy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Thoracic Radiculopathy<\/a> is actually a pretty rare condition, but when it does happen it can definitely point to lumbar radiculopathy. Sometimes, thoracic radiculopathy is misdiagnosed as something else entirely such as heart problems, gastrointestinal issues, shingles or problems with the gallbladder.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the symptoms that someone with thoracic radiculopathy may experience include numbness and tingling, burning or shooting pain in the ribs or sides, pain in the abdomen and more. They may also experience pain in the lower back and hip region. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What most people do not realize is that the nerves that go to the bowel and bladder systems are also located in the same place as the rest of the nerves. In other words, they go through the spinal column is a run back and forth from their specific area to the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Lumbar Radiculopathy Sciatica<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lumbar Radiculopathy refers to a pinched nerve somewhere along the spinal column while lumbar radiculopathy sciatica refers to specifically the pinching of the sciatic nerve<\/a>. The thing about the sciatic nerve is that it is one of the largest and longest nerves in the human body.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will often hear people talk about having sciatica or something does with their sciatic nerve when they have a pinched nerve. That\u2019s because this nerve is so large and so accessible that it is quite common for it to be the one that gets snagged whenever there is a pinched nerve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sciatic nerve starts in the lower back and that extends down and splits so that it goes down the back of both legs. Having pinching in the sciatic nerve in the lower back can actually present with symptoms on down the leg. For example, someone with a pinched sciatic nerve in their back may have numbness or pain near their knee instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Bowel or Bladder Issues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Issues with bowel movements<\/a> or bladder issues are always a cause for concern. But the problem is, there can be dozens of explanations for both bowel and bladder issues. You first have to identify exactly what the symptoms are and then decide whether or not it can be traced back to some kind of nerve problem.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, is the bladder overactive? Is the bladder not receiving signals to urinate quickly enough or often enough? Are bowel movements triggered even when they are not necessary? You will notice whenever you have a serious injury they will ask you whether your bowel movements or bladder have been affected. That\u2019s because a pinched nerve leads to these areas can have serious consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Sharp Extending Pain Starting in the Back<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One major identifying sign let you know that you are probably dealing with lumbar radiculopathy is the specific sign of sharp pain that starts in the back and then extends all the way to the foot. This is a pretty specific sign and most people will not experience it with their pinched nerve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it also has the benefit of being a very clear sign. In other words, if you experience this particular symptom, then 99% of the time it will be because you have a pinched nerve in your back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There just is no other explanation for this symptom. You might also experience numbness <\/a>or weakness in the leg and foot the same way that you would experience pain. This can often happen in the back to the leg because that is where the sciatic nerve runs through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Hypersensitivity or Reflex Changes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, you might also experience changes in how you feel about things or how your reflexes are; the little test that your doctor does with a hammer to see how your reflexes respond is even more important when it comes to diagnosing a nerve issue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will generally notice numbness or tingling <\/a>in the back of the leg along with this hypersensitivity or reflex changes. Numbness is especially important, and it itself can cause a hypersensitivity to pain.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, someone with a pinched nerve and numbness in the hip area may not be able to carry their car keys in that pocket because just the presence of car keys against that numb area of the body can cause them serious discomfort. Your reflexes may also be slow or completely out of whack when you have a pinched nerve in the back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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