Physiotherapy for Pinched Nerve at Back
What is Pinched Nerve (Lumbar radiculopathy)?
Pinched nerve in the back, also known as nerve root lumbar radiculopathy, is a pain shooting from back to thigh and lower leg. The nerve root which travel out of the lumbar intervertebral foramina and join to form nerves to supply body may be irritated, impingement, compressed or injury.
What causes Pinched Nerve (Lumbar radiculopathy)?
The most common cause of lumbar radiculopathy is a disc problem such as degenerated disc, slipped disc, narrowed disc.
Other causes:
- osteophytes (bone spur) impinging on the nerve root in a degenerated spine.
- neck arthritis or cervical spondylosis (‘wear and tear’)
- age related
- acute injury
What are the symptoms of Pinched Nerve (Lumbar radiculopathy)?
The symptoms of lumbar radiculopathy are:
- Deep aching pain in the low back.
- Pain shooting down the leg.
- Tingling and numbness in the leg.
- Weakness in muscles if the compression is severe.
- Lumbar spine muscles might go into spasm as a protective mechanism.
- Core muscle weakness.
Physiotherapy Treatments for Pinched Nerve (Lumbar radiculopathy)?
The treatment for lumbar radiculopathy will depend on the stage of the condition. If there is a neurologic deficit or worsening symptoms, surgery might be required to decompress the nerve root. However in most cases, physiotherapy is the main treatment solution that can help.
At Physioclinic, our physiotherapist will need to assess and physical examination on your back pain condition to find out the root cause of pain. Physiotherapy may include:
- Pain Relief /Tissue healing Treatments: TENS, Interferential Therapy, Ultrasound therapy, Heat therapy
- Manual therapy: joint mobilisation/manipulation to align back structures and improve mobility of the spine.
- Massage: to reduce back muscle spasm.
- Neural tissue mobilization: to mobilise spinal nerve
- Back strengthening and core exercises
- Clinical Pilates
