Lumbar radiculopathy, commonly known as sciatica, is a medical condition caused by compression of the spinal nerve roots in the lumbar region of the vertebrae. These spinal roots may be compressed or irritated as a result of medical conditions...
Radiculopathy is the medical term used to describe irritation of the nerve roots exiting the spinal canal. Commonly referred to as a "pinched nerve," radiculopathy may be caused by several underlying conditions including a herniated disc,...
Symptoms of numbness and tingling in the toes can arise from several causative factors. These symptoms can be experienced in all the toes, or select ones depending on the cause. Since numbness of the toes is often indicative of more serious...
The spinal column is a series of 24 bones called vertebrae running from the neck to the pelvis. Seven cervical vertebrae support the neck, 12 thoracic vertebrae connect to the rib cage and five lumbar vertebrae support the lower back. The spinal...
Sciatica is a condition that affects the sciatic nerve, a large nerve that extends along the back of the pelvis to the back of the thigh. Pain along this nerve, known as lumbar radiculopathy, may result from a variety of conditions that place...
Diabetes mellitus results in persistently high levels of blood sugar, namely glucose, from a deficient or faulty response to the hormone, insulin. Diabetes is either insulin-dependent (Type 1), when the problem is a deficiency in insulin...
A nerve becomes pinched when excessive pressure is placed on it by nearby structures, such as a herniated disc or bone spur. When the nerve becomes pinched, it causes local and radiating pain, numbness and tingling, muscle weakness and changes in...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 45 million Americans are infected with herpes, although most have no idea that they are infected. In the May 2008 edition of the “Archives of Neurology,” Drs....
Numerous spinal conditions can cause leg pain. According to the Spine Universe website, leg pain that's caused by problems in the lumbar spine is a common complaint among people with lower back pain. Spine-related leg pain is often a sharp,...
The risk of degenerative disk disease increases as people get older. A herniated disc is often diagnosed in adults ages 35 to 45. A disc bulge can press on the spinal cord or nerve root, causing pain. Sometimes the condition causes knee pain if a...
Herpes Simplex 2 (HSV-2) is the virus that causes genital herpes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five American adults is infected with genital herpes. There is no cure for herpes. Infected individuals will...
Weak muscles and pain do not always occur together. In some cases, these signs and symptoms may be caused by unique health problems. In other cases, a single condition may cause these problems to occur simultaneously. Radiculopathy, a health...
Living with back issues greatly affects your activity levels and quality of life. Problems in your cervical and lumbar spines are likely to cause problems in your neck, arms, hands and legs. Realigning your spine assists in stabilizing your...
Thirty-one pairs of nerves exit the spinal cord through openings in the vertebral column. These are spinal nerves. There are four main areas of the vertebral spine: the cervical spine, or neck; the thoracic spine, or chest; the lumbar spine, or...
Radiating leg pain has many causes. According to the New York University Langone Medical Center, structural problems in the lower back can cause radiating leg pain, along with leg numbness, tingling and weakness. Tight muscles in the gluteal...
A lumbar disc herniation occurs in the lower back and results in symptoms such as sharp or dull back pain, muscle spasm, leg weakness and sciatica. Lumbar disc herniations are common problems, affecting an estimated 1 to 2 percent of Americans,...
Radiculopathy is a medical term to describe a condition in which one or more of the spinal nerves has been compressed or irritated. This can cause symptoms of pain, weakness, numbness and tingling in the lower back and legs. Depending on the...
Ankylosing spondylitis, AS, is a form of spinal arthritis. AS can cause the sacroiliac joint between the spine and hips to fuse. The ribs can also fuse in AS causing breathing difficulty. Although neurological symptoms are rare, notes the...
Heel pain may be a common complaint, but it should not be ignored. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, most heel pain will resolve on its own, if given enough rest. Most posterior heel pain, or pain in the back of the heel,...
