Treatment of Pinched Lumbar Nerve in New Jersey
A pinched lumbar nerve can cause pain in a person’s lower back, legs, or feet. A pinched nerve happens when parts of the spine compress the surrounding tissue, disrupting signals that the nerves send to the brain. A pinched nerve can cause pain, numbness, and even tingling. Learn more about pinched nerves and treatment from New Jersey’s NU-Spine: The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute. We offer a variety of advanced spine procedures.
Symptoms of a Pinched Lumbar Nerve
Lumbar refers to the bottom part of the spine, so a pinched lumbar nerve affects the lower part of a person’s spine. A pinched nerve in general can be caused suddenly by a quick movement or injury, but it can also happen gradually due to arthritis.
When a pinched nerve happens in the lower back, a person can experience pain in the lower extremities, like the buttocks, legs, and feet. Symptoms can include:
- Numbness or tingling
- Sharp or burning pain in the lower back or buttocks
- Pain that extends down one leg
- Muscle weakness
- Muscle spasms
A lumbar pinched nerve can also be referred to as lumbar radiculopathy, a nerve root compression affecting the lower back.
Nerve Pain vs. Muscle Pain Symptoms
Many patients confuse nerve pain and muscle pain. Nerve pain tends to be a sharp pain that includes a burning sensation, tingling, or numbness. Muscle pain, however, usually causes muscles and joints to feel stiff and achy.
Causes of Pinched Lumbar Nerves
A pinched nerve can happen in many ways, and some conditions can cause tissue or bone to compress on a nerve, leading to several symptoms. Common causes include:
- Rheumatoid arthritis: Arthritis can cause inflammation in the joints that may pressure nearby nerves.
- Aging: Over time, natural deterioration occurs in the bones due to normal wear and tear. As a result, spinal discs can lose water content and flatten, and the vertebrae may move closer together, causing bone spurs.
- Sudden injury: A sudden sports injury or an accident can cause a pinched nerve. Awkward lifting, pulling, or twisting movements can also lead to a herniated disc.
- Repetitive motion tasks: Any repetitive motions, like constant lifting, can stress the spine, which can result in more pressure placed on spinal nerves.
- Obesity: Excess weight can swell a nerve pathway, putting pressure on nerves.
- Pregnancy: Extra weight can result in compressed nerves.
- Diabetes: High glucose levels in the blood can damage nerves.
If a patient experiences any sudden loss of feeling or numbness in one of their extremities, they should contact their doctor immediately.
Diagnosing a Pinched Lumbar Nerve
A neurologist at NU-Spine uses a variety of tests to determine the cause and place of the pinched nerve. Those tests can include:
- X-rays:An X-ray can show the bone structure of the spine where a fracture could be found. X-rays also show any narrowing of the spinal cord or change in alignment of the spine.
- Computed tomography (CT) scan:A CT scan shows a 3D image of the spine with more detail than an X-ray.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan: An MRI can show damage to soft tissues or the spinal cord itself.
- Electromyography (EMG): Electrical impulses in muscles are measured by an EMG, which can determine whether a nerve is working properly.
- Myelography: This CT or MRI scan involves a contrast dye, which shows how nerves pass through the body.
Get an MRI Review
If a patient has already been seen by a doctor and has had an MRI, the neurologists at NU-Spine can give patients a free MRI review. As part of our commitment to patient care, we offer a second opinion on treatment for a pinched lumbar nerve.
Managing Pinched Nerve Pain
The first line of treatment for a pinched nerve is non-surgical treatment, which can include:
- Rest: Many times, pain from a pinched nerve will go away with rest.
- Ice and heat: Using ice and heat therapy on the affected area can help treat a pinched nerve.
- Over-the-counter pain medicine:Over-the-counter pain medication, like a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), can help reduce swelling and provide relief from pain.
- Corticosteroids: A corticosteroid is an anti-inflammatory medication that can be taken orally or injected into the affected area by a doctor.
- Physical therapy: A doctor may recommend physical therapy to help stretch muscles and release pressure on the nerves.
A neurologist will often suggest at-home treatments first for relief from a pinched nerve.
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery at NU-Spine
In minimally invasive spine surgery, a neurosurgeon makes a small incision, usually less than two centimeters in length, to perform a surgical procedure. The procedure is done by inserting a small tube into the incision where a camera, light, microscope, and precision tools are inserted. Once the procedure is done, the incision normally just needs a bandage on it.
The surgical team at NU-Spine prefers to use minimally invasive surgeries because of their numerous benefits, which can include:
- Quicker results
- Less blood loss
- Less muscle and nerve damage
- Less bruising
- Faster recovery time
- Lower risks
Often, a minimally invasive procedure can allow a patient to go home on the same day. This means that recovery and recuperation occur at home, where patients can be more comfortable.
Types of Minimally Invasive Procedures
If Dr. Branko Skovrlj suggests surgery as an option to treat a pinched lumbar nerve, there are a few options, including:
- Lumbar discectomy: Part or all of a damaged intervertebral disc is removed from the spine.
- Lumbar microdiscectomy: This procedure uses a small incision site during surgery to remove part of a damaged intervertebral disc.
- Minimally invasive laminectomy: This involves removing part of the lamina, or the vertebral bone.
- Hemilaminectomy: This is like a laminectomy, but half of the bone is removed.
- Spinal fusion: This is a surgical procedure that fuses two or more vertebrae.
- Spinal reconstruction: This surgery alleviates pain in the spine by replacing parts of the spine with artificial parts.
These procedures have a high rate of success, which is why NU-Spine is a leader in performing minimally invasive spine surgeries in New Jersey.
Choose NU-Spine to Treat Pinched Lumbar Nerves
The world-renowned staff at NU-Spine: The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute are advocates of minimally invasive surgery, especially to treat pinched lumbar nerves. Our neurologists believe the technique is on par with traditional spinal surgery, but it is less invasive, leading to a quicker healing time for the patient.
Whether a patient has a pinched lumbar nerve or is seeking a more accurate diagnosis of neck and back pain, they should visit NU-Spine as soon as possible. We are conveniently located in Paramus, Woodbridge, Toms River, Jersey City, and Holmdel, New Jersey. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
