Keyword(s): leg pain from my back
Meta description: The pain in your leg may be coming from your low back. How? It’s called radiculopathy. Learn more in our new blog.
Bottom Line:
It may seem odd to think that nagging leg, calf, or foot pain could be traced back to a low back problem…
But if you've had pain in your leg or foot, a pinched nerve in your low back may be creating your issue!
Pain that travels along a spinal nerve is called radicular pain, and it's one of the most common types of pain that occurs as a result of spinal nerve compression. Usually I see this in an acute setting, but it can be chronic as well.
Why it Matters:
Your spinal nerves can be pinched or compressed by a bone, disc, or ligament.
Whichever your pain is coming from, it's important to know that all have a great chance of recovering without the need for drugs or surgery.
Here’s a closer look:
Bone Spurs: Bone spurs can form as a result of joint damage associated with osteoarthritis, and these can sometimes grow large enough to pinch your spinal nerves.
Disc Herniations: Disc herniations are acute, disc bulges are chronic, and both can invade the space of your nerves and that inflammation and pressure can cause narrowing of the canals.
Ligament Hypertrophy: Ligament hypertrophy (or overgrowth) can happen with age and injuries and lead to added pressure your nerves.
Next Steps:
Radicular pain can be problematic, but with the right plan in place you can have an active lifestyle without medications, injections, and surgery. My Pain 2 Performance sessions take a whole body approach which is specific to your goals and your story. Don’t let some doc scare you into thinking you can’t live an active lifestyle. Don’t let some doc sell you a load of crap of doing the same thing all the time over and over and over again. If someone tells you there is a bone out of place causing your problem, do yourself a favor and turn around and leave right away. That’s called a dislocation and if it was true it would require emergency care.
Either way, your body is telling you to Pay Attention Inside Now!
Every day in my practice, I help people treat their compressed nerves and get back to the things they love with the people they love.
Reducing inflammation, establishing proper joint motion, and getting a home mobilization and recovery plan in place means my clients are being proactive not reactive. They are taking steps to reduce the likelihood of the pain coming back and this training is part of all of my care plans.
I’m celebrating your success already!
Stay Strong, Inspire Others!
Science Source(s):
Radiculopathy. Johns Hopkins Medicine. 2021.