Lumbosacral radiculitis is an inflammation of the nerve roots extending from the spinal cord at the level of the lumbar and sacrum (radix in Greek - “root”). The main causes of lumbosacral radiculitis are dystrophic changes in vertebral structures due to osteochondrosis.
This disease can be provoked by birth defects (sacralization), infectious lesions (tuberculosis, influenza), as well as injuries and hypothermia. Sometimes it develops as a complication of meningitis and encephalitis.
Lumbosacral radiculitis: symptoms
The leading symptom is pain of varying intensity. It can be aching and chronic, or it can be burning and sharp. Sometimes a painful attack occurs suddenly when a person tries to straighten his back, but it is not possible to do this completely, and new attempts only intensify the pain. An attack can begin after hypothermia, heavy physical labor, or staying in one position for a long time. The pain often radiates to the leg. In severe cases, the function of the pelvic organs is impaired.
Development mechanism
The spine is formed by vertebrae separated by intervertebral discs. In the middle is the spinal canal with the spinal cord inside: spinal nerves extend from it on opposite sides.
Some of them are responsible for motor functions, others for sensitivity. All of them pass through the foraminal openings and innervate different parts of the body and internal organs. If one or another nerve is compressed by pathological structures, a whole set of motor and sensory disturbances arise, which are typical signs of radiculitis.
Reviews of doctors providing the service – Lumbar radiculitis
In 2000, Andrei Arkadyevich performed spinal surgery on me.
Four days in the clinic and I have been living a full life for 20 years without restrictions on movement and I remember with gratitude Dr. A.A. Khodnevich. God bless him. And in 2000 he could walk no more than 10 meters. Read full review Viktor Alexandrovich
20.05.2020
Low bow to Alexander Semenovich Bronstein and Andrei Arkadyevich Khodnevich. I arrived at CELT on July 2, 2021 with extreme pain that I endured for 10 days. Hernia C6-C-7. I was given two blockades in Ivanovo, about 9 complex IVs, I lost 6 kg in a week and was in a panic, I didn’t see a way out and nothing happened to me... Read full review
Elena Nikolaevna L.
20.10.2019
Which doctor should I contact?
Neurologists are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of radiculitis; if necessary, other specialized specialists are involved - vertebrologists, orthopedic traumatologists, and neurosurgeons. Complex therapy can be carried out with the participation of a chiropractor, physical therapist and reflexologist.
Acute and chronic forms of pathology
Experts distinguish acute and chronic forms of pathology. Failure to see a doctor in a timely manner or self-treatment can lead to acute radiculitis becoming chronic. As a result, restoring health will require more time and effort.
Patients seek medical help in most cases due to severe pain and limited movement characteristic of the acute form. In the chronic form of radiculitis, the pain can be constant and dull, so patients often prefer the option of treating radiculitis at home with folk remedies, which is fraught with serious complications. Experts recommend seeking medical help at the first signs of radiculitis.
How to recognize lumbosacral radiculitis
If a pinched nerve root is suspected, the doctor will order an x-ray, which is performed in frontal and lateral projections. With its help, intervertebral hernias, dislocations, fractures, defects and displacements of the vertebrae are identified. In order to exclude degenerative disorders in the spine, a spondylogram is performed. To confirm the infectious nature of the inflammation, a lumbar puncture is indicated, the results of which determine pathologies such as meningitis and encephalitis. Diagnostics may include MRI, CT scan of the spine, myelography, and laboratory blood tests.
Causes
Radiculitis in the lumbar and sacral regions is not an independent disease. Various reasons lead to irritation and compression of the nerve roots, followed by serious discomfort. These may be introduced infections, but most often the development of osteochondrosis leads to radiculitis.
Spinal injuries
Injuries and bruises of the spine, which will subsequently lead to the development of radiculitis, are:
- serious intense impacts - car accidents, falls from a height, pressure from heavy objects (during the collapse of buildings, for example);
- physical impacts (impacts, collisions with other objects and people);
- injuries against the background of existing pathologies (osteoporosis, metastases, tumors, etc.): such trauma is possible even with an awkward turn in bed. You can also get injured while playing sports.
Disease, such as arthritis
Various diseases, mainly of the musculoskeletal system (arthritis, spondyloarthritis deformans, intervertebral hernia, osteoarthritis, etc.), can also lead to inflammation of the roots. Also, radiculitis can be a consequence and complication of diseases such as meningitis, influenza, rheumatism, tuberculosis, etc.
Osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis
– one of the main reasons leading to radiculitis in the lower back. Pathology occurs due to various types of deformations of the spine and its individual parts. The main factor in the development of osteochondrosis is overload of the musculoskeletal system, which occurs due to poor posture, individual style of sitting or walking, heredity, abnormal development, inappropriate or excessive physical activity. Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region is often associated with overload when bending and lifting heavy objects.
Drug treatment
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed to relieve acute pain, inflammation and muscle spasms. These are drugs based on diclofenac, nimesulide, ibuprofen, meloxicam. The choice of dosage form depends on the intensity of the symptoms: severe pain is eliminated with intramuscular injections, moderate pain can be relieved with tablets. In the acute period, local agents - ointments, gels and creams - can additionally be used. The second choice drugs are steroids - Hydrocortisone, Dexamethasone, Diprospan. They have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect. If NSAIDs with hormones are ineffective, then therapeutic blockades with Lidocaine and Novocaine are performed.
Antispasmodics and muscle relaxants (Mydocalm) help relax spasmodic muscles. If swelling is present, diuretics and magnesium sulfate are prescribed. Swollen tissues put additional pressure on the nerve, so removing excess fluid greatly alleviates the condition. To enhance the effect of analgesics and normalize the functioning of the nervous system, sedatives are added. Treatment of lumbar radiculitis also includes B vitamins, which improve nerve conduction. The most commonly used are Milgamma and Neuromultivit. If the disease is of non-infectious origin, then ointments with a warming effect can be prescribed - based on turpentine, snake and bee venoms, camphor. They relieve pain due to local irritant action.
Treatment of radiculitis at home using the NANOPLAST forte therapeutic patch
used in the therapeutic treatment of radiculitis , such as NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, etc., certainly alleviate the patient’s condition, but with prolonged use they can cause harm to the body. And for some gastrointestinal diseases, many drugs are generally contraindicated.
But now it is possible to minimize side effects and at the same time increase the effectiveness of sciatica treatment. A new generation drug can help with this - the pain-relieving anti-inflammatory medical patch NANOPLAST forte .
In the treatment of radiculitis, the therapeutic plaster NANOPLAST forte in many cases shows very good results:
- helps relieve pain and inflammation,
- improve blood circulation in the affected area, which ensures active restoration of damaged tissues;
- makes it possible to reduce the dose of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, and in some cases, cancel them altogether.
For radiculitis , the therapeutic plaster NANOPLAST forte is applied to the neck, cervico-brachial region, lower back or intercostal area - depending on the location of the pain. It is usually recommended to use the patch in the morning for 12 hours, but it can also be used at night. The duration of the course of treatment of radiculitis with a medicinal patch is from 9 days
High efficiency, absence of harmful side effects, long-term (up to 12 hours!) therapeutic effects, ease of use and affordable price make NANOPLAST forte the drug of choice in the treatment of radiculitis.
Read more about NANOPLAST forte
Non-drug treatment
Non-drug methods are used after the acute symptoms have subsided, when there is no longer severe pain. Their task is to strengthen the muscle corset, improve blood supply to the lumbosacral region and stimulate recovery processes. Help speed up recovery:
- physiotherapy – laser, ultraviolet, magnet, electrophoresis with painkillers, hormones, therapeutic mud;
- massage sessions using soft techniques to avoid re-pinching the nerve;
- special exercises that the physical therapy instructor will show help relieve excess stress from the spine and improve posture;
- reflexology;
- manual therapy;
- traction traction using dry or underwater methods.
Prevention
Preventive measures to prevent radiculitis are simple:
- competent organization of sleeping space. A comfortable bed is an elastic mattress of medium hardness and a small pillow of medium thickness. The ideal choice is orthopedic bedding;
- a complete and balanced diet will not only provide the body with healthy vitamins and minerals, but will also help maintain normal weight;
- adequate physical activity. Hard work is bad for your back, so if possible, you should reduce the load. Physical inactivity also threatens with negative consequences for the spine, and you should exercise at least once a week.
Doctors at our center have been working with patients suffering from radiculitis for many years. With timely treatment, the prognosis is always favorable. With us you will receive complete treatment, starting from examination and diagnosis, and ending with advice on lifestyle correction.
Surgical intervention
Operations for diseases of the spine
- Cost: 100,000 - 250,000 rubles.
- Duration: 40-60 minutes
- Hospitalization: 2-3 days in hospital
More details
Surgical intervention is carried out exclusively according to indications:
- lack of effect from conservative treatment;
- inhibition of tendon reflexes;
- feeling of weakness in the lower limb;
- decreased sensitivity of the lower limb.
Neurosurgeons at the CELT multidisciplinary clinic perform gentle operations through micro-incisions or punctures while preserving all supporting structures of the spine. Three-dimensional modeling of the operation and planning of each stage are carried out in advance. The process uses microsurgical and endoscopic techniques, laser and ultrasound, which allows our patients to quickly recover and return to work within two to three weeks after surgery.