Sciatica -Lumbar radiculopathy

Sciatica is a set of symptoms rather than a specific diagnosis and is caused by a herniated lumbar disc in the vast majority of cases.Often applied to any presentation of low back and leg pain Lumbosacral radiculopathy is a more specific term - impingement of lumbosacral nerve roots as they emerge from the spinal canal 4th and 5th Lumbar nerve roots ( L4-L5 )First two Sacral (S1 and S2 ).Sciatic nerve- largest nerve in body Disturbance anywhere along the course of the sciatic nerve can cause --> Sciatica○ most common are disc ruptures and osteoarthritis atL4 - L5L5 - S1L3 - L4 - less frequently Radiating pain , tingling and numbness - dermatomal distributionmay be accompanying motor weakness in a corresponding myotomal distribution Symptoms typically extend ○ below the knee from buttocks○ across the back of thigh○ outer calf○ often to foot and toes.Acute sciatica generally has a good prognosis with pain and disability usually improving within 2-4 weeks- with or without treatment

Back pain accounts for 7 % of GP consultations and more than 30 % of people still have clinically significant symptoms after a year after onset of sciatica .Causes- Herniated intervertebral disc ( slipped disc ) with...