Over the next 5 weeks we will be helping you out with different types of back pain. Today we will talk about radicular symptoms.
Low back pain with radiculopathy or radicualar symptoms is simply where something happens in your back that causes you to have pain going down your leg. This can be anywhere from your booty down to your foot. You may even only have the symptoms in your leg and not in your back at all.
These symptoms typically feel like numbness or burning, but sometimes it just hurts.
What causes these feelings in your leg/s?
There are two primary causes of back issues that can lead to your legs feeling numb or tingling. They are known as stenosis and disc protrusion. Stenosis is when the spinal canal builds up bone and becomes more narrow. It basically leaves the spinal cord less room to move in the spinal canal and that can cause symptoms to go into the leg. Disc Protrusion is when a vertebral disc (the cushion between segments of the spine itself) starts to protrude into the spinal canal and touches a nerve.
It is important to note that both of these present with very similar symptoms. They both can cause symptoms into one or both legs. This can be numbness, tingling or just pain. They both can just have pain centered in the low back region without any symptoms in the leg. Both will vary depending on your position, meaning it is not usually constant but on a scale of symptoms from 0-10. They can both be debilitating and make it so you don't want to move or do anything.
If you experience either of these, it is beneficial to see a health professional. We can get you feeling better, and out of bed.
Most importantly, we can get you back to doing the things you enjoy doing most.
The first step to getting better is to find out what happened. Try this flexion and extension test to see if you have a directional preference.
This test is super helpful in helping to diagnose what your issue is. It does not always hold true, but more often than not it is accurate.
If your symptoms get worse with bending forward, you have a disc issue!
If your symptoms get worse with bending backward, you have a stenosis issue!
This is not medical advice and is not to be used in lieu of treatment, but just a quick guide to help you know a proper course of action.
Does This Resolve Quickly?
This question comes up a lot. Unfortunately there is no tried and true answer to give. Everyone, even you, is different. WebMD states it can take about 3 months. Other sources say it can take as little as 4 weeks.
It is important to note that sometimes this can take longer. The thing that you want to be experiencing is that you are trending forward. There may be some setbacks, but that is okay! The trend should be moving towards full recovery.
How can we help?
Here are a few of our favorite exercises to try at home to help you get better.
This is our wheelhouse at BodyFix PT and Performance. We have been treating people with back pain for over 10 years. We will do a throughout examination to figure out what is causing your particular issues. This will include a history, how you hurt yourself, any other underlying conditions. After we have done the examination, we will work with you to come up with the best plan for getting you back to doing the things you enjoy doing. From playing with your kids to running a marathon, we are here for you.
Call 425-202-5687 or email info@bodyfixpt.com to ask us any questions you may have.
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