A pinched lumbar nerve is the colloquial term for an acute compression of a nerve which causes pain in one or both legs. It may also be a case of acute inflammation in other areas of the spine such as the disc, intervertebral ligaments or synovial capsules, which also causes severe pain in the lower back.
The lumbar region is the part of the spine most likely to get a pinched nerve, because it is the part of the back that is subject to the most twisting and force in our daily lives. Whether due to poor posture habits, overexertion or a blow to the back, a lumbar disc can break or deform, leading to a herniated disc or a protrusion that can pinch or compress a nerve.
Symptoms of a pinched lumbar nerve
Symptoms usually begin with severe pain, although this may depend on what caused the compressed nerve. Most often, the pain increases gradually and other symptoms arise, such as tingling in the legs, numbness, weakness and stiffness in the area. If left untreated, it may also cause greatly reduced mobility.
Causes of a pinched lumbar nerve
As we mentioned above, there are various things that can cause a pinched nerve. Some of the most common causes are:
- Poor postural habits that are frequently repeated, usually at work.
- Overexertion such as lifting weights incorrectly whether at work, during sports or some other physical activity. At the moment this happens, it is usually accompanied by a cracking or clicking sound in the area.
- Accident or blow to the back that affects the lumbar spine area.
- Some diseases such as osteoarthritis.
Treatment and recovery time
The treatment will depend on each case, so it is essential to see a specialist who can make a correct diagnosis. In some cases, it only requires medication and rest to relieve the pain.
It may also be necessary to go to a physical therapist for manual therapy and/or active therapy, consisting of exercises that help strengthen and stretch the muscles in the affected area. This will relieve pressure on the nerve or structure suffering compression or inflammation.
If these conservative treatments are not enough to relieve the pain, Instituto Clavel also has a Pain Clinic where we offer such techniques as rhizolysis or epidural infiltrations that can be useful to reduce or eliminate acute pain caused by pathologies like this.
However, in some cases, symptoms may not improve even with the treatments described above. When this happens, the specialist will likely recommend surgery to release the pressure on the nerve. At Instituto Clavel, we are committed to minimally invasive techniques such as lumbar microdiscectomy, which is indicated for a pinched nerve that causes pain in the leg, as it allows us to decompress the lumbar nerve roots. After this intervention, the patient can usually return to their normal life within approximately 3-6 weeks, or sometimes up to 12, depending on the physical activity of the patient.
If the pain is mostly in the lumbar region, other types of surgeries may be required, such as artificial disc replacement surgery (ADR) or lumbar arthrodesis. After ADR, the patient usually returns to work within 3-6 weeks, depending on the level of physical exertion required in their daily life. In the case of arthrodesis or fusion surgery, the recovery period for returning to normal activities is longer, usually between 8-12 weeks after the operation.
For these reasons, the recovery time needed for a pinched lumbar nerve will depend on the degree of severity and the treatments it requires. Therefore, the most important thing is to go to the doctor as soon as possible.
Prevention and other advice
Whether or not you have experienced a pinched lumbar nerve, you should know that it is possible to prevent it from occurring. How? The most effective thing is to use good posture throughout your daily life.
It is also important to avoid risks to your back, such as lifting heavy weight or making sudden movements that we are not used to doing. Here’s an article you may find useful with other tips from our medical team on how to prevent or treat back pain, and a video with exercises to relieve discomfort.
In any case, if you have questions or someone you know is suffering from a pinched lumbar nerve, we recommend that you seek personal attention from a specialist in the spine. We would be happy to help you at Instituto Clavel. You can contact us here.
Categories: Spine pathologies, Lumbar pain, Rehabilitation