Low Back Pain with Sciatica

LOW BACK PAIN with SCIATICA RELATED TO LUMBAR SPINE DISORDERS WHAT is Sciatica? SCIATICA Sciatica is a term for symptoms caused by compression of any of the spinal nerves in the lower back causing pain to radiate down the legs and even cause tingling or numbness into the toes and feet. Spine disorders such as a herniated disc or spinal stenosis are what can cause compression of the spinal nerves and result in low back and leg pain or sciatica. CAUSES OF LOW BACK & LEG PAIN Sciatica Annulus Disc Herniation Extrusion of the central Nucleus disc material (nucleus) pushes through the outer part of the disc (annulus) causing compression of the nerves or Nerve root compressed spinal cord, causing pain. Spinal Stenosis is a medical condition in which the spinal canal narrows and the bone compresses the spinal cord and nerves at the Nerve root compressed lumbar level vertebrae. Spondylolisthesis or a "slipped vertebrae" as it is also called, refers to the anterior displacement L4 of a vertebra or the L5 vertebral column S1 in relation to the vertebrae below it. COLORIZED X-Ray of LumbarSpine Lateral X-Ray of Lumbar Spine highlighting L4 Spondylolisthesis WARNING SIGNS OF LOW BACK & LEG PAIN Warning Signs • Back pain with leg pain o Weakness in the leg • Leg tingling or numbness WHO GETS BACK PAIN? GETTING OLDER Back pain is more common the older SMOKING you get. Your body may not be able to get enough nutrients to the disks in your back if you smoke. Anyone can GET Being OVERWEIGHT BACK PAIN, Too much weight can stress the back and cause pain but some things that increase POOR PHYSICAL FITNESS your risk are: Back pain is more common in people who are not fit. YOUR JOB If you have to lift, push or pull while twisting your spine, you may get back pain. If you work at a desk all day and do not sit up straight, you may also get back pain. PREVENTION OF LOW BACK & LEG PAIN The TOP 3 things YOU can do to prevent low back pain & sciatica are: 1 Don't smoke 2 Maintain a healthy weight 3 Try to maintain good posture and get regular exercise TREATMENTS FOR LOW BACK & LEG PAIN Sciatica Rest Physical therapy • Over-the-counter medications Lumbar epidural injections Acupuncture Surgery MOST COMMON Surgical Treatments: Microdiscectomy, Laminectomy Anterior Lumbar Fusion Laminectomy and Fusion Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Mount Sinai © 2012 The Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York You are free to copy, distribute and transmit this content, but you must attribute the work to Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York.