When a nerve in your lower back gets squeezed or irritated, it can send sharp pain, tingling, or numbness down your leg—that’s lumbar radiculopathy, a condition where spinal nerve roots in the lower back are compressed or inflamed. Also known as sciatica, it’s not a disease itself but a symptom of something else pressing on the nerve—like a herniated disc, bone spur, or spinal stenosis. You might feel it while sitting, standing, or even coughing. It doesn’t always start with back pain; sometimes, the first sign is a sudden zap down your thigh or foot.
This isn’t just about aging. People in their 30s and 40s get it from lifting wrong, sitting too long, or sudden twists. It’s common in warehouse workers, truck drivers, and even office staff who sit all day. The good news? Most cases improve without surgery. But knowing what’s causing it matters. A herniated disc is the usual suspect, but spinal stenosis—narrowing of the spinal canal—can do the same thing, especially in older adults. herniated disc, a slipped or ruptured spinal disc that presses on nearby nerves is often the culprit, and it shows up clearly on an MRI. spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that pinches nerves over time tends to come on slower, often with pain that gets worse when walking.
Doctors don’t just guess. They check your reflexes, muscle strength, and how far you can lift your leg while lying down. If you can’t raise your leg past 60 degrees without pain, that’s a classic sign. Blood tests won’t help here—it’s all about nerve pressure. Treatment starts simple: rest, anti-inflammatories, physical therapy, and posture fixes. Steroid shots can calm swelling around the nerve if pain sticks around. Surgery? Only if nothing else works, or if you’re losing muscle or bladder control. Most people get better in weeks to months with the right approach.
What you won’t find in this collection are vague tips like "just stretch more" or "try yoga." You’ll see real-world advice on how medications like gabapentin help nerve pain, why some people respond to epidural injections and others don’t, and how to tell if your leg pain is from a pinched nerve or something else entirely. You’ll also learn what to avoid—like prolonged bed rest—and what actually moves the needle in recovery. These aren’t theoretical ideas. They’re drawn from clinical practice, patient outcomes, and the kind of details that matter when you’re the one in pain.
Cervical and lumbar radiculopathy cause nerve pain down the arm or leg. Learn what triggers it, why recovery times differ, and the proven rehab steps that actually work-without surgery.