Pain down the leg is often triggered by a pinched nerve in the lumbar region of the back. Nerves run throughout the entire body, so when a nerve is pinched, compressed, or damaged in one area of the body, uncomfortable sensations may arise elsewhere. As physiatrists, we often treat pinched nerves associated with:
- athletic activities
- injuries on the job
- motor vehicle accidents
- degenerative disease
By identifying the location of your pain, our specialists can apply a highly specific treatment to help you progress toward a speedy recovery.
Tingling in Feet and Potential Lumbar Radiculopathy
Pain down the leg, tingling in the feet, and/or toe numbness is often connected with chronic back pain. Lumbar radiculopathy, also known as Sciatica, is a common diagnosis for this pain down the leg. Other possible disorders include a herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis. All of these symptoms arise when a lumbar nerve root is pinched or pushed. Damage at each lumbar level of the spine targets specific areas of the lower body. By seeing a specialist, you will given options to help treat your individual condition with special care.
Numbing of Toes and Potential Lumbar Radiculopathy
If a person begins to complain of pain down the leg and/ or numbing toes, this may be caused by compression of one of the spinal nerves. Although the toes are very far from the spinal area, nerves stretch the length of the body, directly connecting to the toes. It is important to address these sensations quickly. If left untreated, a person could potentially have long-term loss of sensation in the legs and toes. Causes of numbing in the toes can be similar to the causes of pain down the leg. Bulging or herniated discs, as well as degenerative bone spurs around the vertebral bones create direct pressure on the nerve roots and such nerve irritation is known as lumbar radiculopathy. If you are experiencing these conditions it is important to seek specialized care.