Nerve Root Pain

Overview

Nerve root pain arises when the nerve in one's spinal cord gets compressed or injured. It triggers increased numbness, sensitivity, soreness, and muscle weakness. Nerves are responsible for carrying signals and information throughout the body which prompt movement. They also transfer messages to the brain. Damage to the nerves can cause a sharp and burning pain originating from the back, spreading to other parts connected to the concerned nerve. Note that the pain may or may not emerge from multiple nerve roots.

What is Nerve Root Pain?

Nerve root pain is a painful sensation that emerges from the back and spreads to other areas that are connected to the damaged nerve. It occurs due to a long-term or sudden pressure applied to the spinal nerve root. This results in the development of a disorder.

Nerve root disorders are mostly caused by osteoarthritis or herniated discs in the spine region. Say, for example, an individual is feeling a rising pain through their legs or arms, accompanied by a sense of weakness and tingling - an EMG shall reveal whether or not the spinal nerve is pinched because of osteoarthritis.

On the other hand, if the suffering individual experiences waves of sharp, burning pain shooting into their legs or arms as they sneeze or cough, it may have resulted from a herniated disk. Such disorders not only cause sharp pain but also numbing and tingling sensations. Muscle weakness is also triggered in certain areas of the body.

Types of Nerve Root Pain

The range of nerve pain may vary depending on its place of origin. Here are the types of nerve root pain recognised by researchers:

Lumbar Nerve Pain

Lumbar nerve pain is also known as sciatica, and results from the combined effects of leg and back pain. The condition is characterised by an intense degree of pain in the leg region, down the knee area. A slipped disk typically causes this condition in people.

Brachial Neuralgia

Brachial neuralgia causes nerve root pain that emerges from the nerves stemming back to the neck region. It, thus, causes weakness and pain in the arms, often further spreading down to the fingers and hands.

Symptoms of Nerve Root Disorder

Nerve root pain is the main resulting symptom of nerve root disorders. It is described as a sharp, often burning sensation that emerges from the back side, radiating through different areas. The spread-prone regions are determined based on their being connected to the damaged nerve.

Other recognisable symptoms include a tingling sensation, a feeling of weakness in the muscles, a degree of numbness, increased sensitivity issues in certain parts of the body and finally, acute pain in the limbs, back and neck regions.

Causes of Nerve Root Pain

There can be several different reasons behind nerve root pain, some more commonly recorded than others. Typically, there exist underlying conditions which lead to the pressure on the nerve of the spine. For example, spinal arthritis may cause bone spurs which in turn, shall form upon the facet joints. Bone spurs apply unaccounted-for pressure on the existing spinal nerve roots.

Degenerative spinal disorders like spinal stenosis may cause the pinching of spinal nerves. An injury to the spine or an infection in the area can also lead to a painful nerve. Inflammatory diseases affecting the spinal cord may cause sudden sharp pain in the arms, legs, back or shoulders. Other abnormalities including cysts, tumours and hematomas shall cause nerve pain. Finally, spondylitis and herniated discs have been recorded as causative factors for this condition.

Nerve Root Pain Diagnosis and Tests

A few steps precede the final diagnosis of nerve root pain. Healthcare professionals analyse the medical history records of the concerned individual and prescribe a physical examination. They shall check for any loss of feeling one may be experiencing, sensations of numbness, muscle strength levels, reflexes, and overall posture. Other than that, as per requirement, spine MRIs or X-rays may be recommended.

A spinal MRI shall determine the degree of damage caused to the soft tissues of ligaments and discs. Any spinal cord injury will also be assessed in the process. The X-rays shall reveal any damage caused to the discs. They'll also allow a peek at the bone alignment of the neck.

Nerve Root Pain Management and Treatment

Nerve root pain can be eliminated through proper medication and physical therapy. For example, doctors often prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, nerve blocks in the form of spinal injections, epidural injections (cervical and lumbar spine) and radiofrequency ablation.

As a personal measure, the affected individual must partake in physical activities every day, and safely engage in exercises and supervised physical therapy.

Sometimes the symptoms may go away on their own with time, and at other times, they may not respond positively to nonsurgical treatment options. That’s when healthcare professionals may recommend surgical procedures to get rid of the nagging pain. Spinal decompression surgeries include discectomy and laminectomy. Other surgery options are disc replacement procedures, spinal fusion and foraminotomy.

Preventive Measures for Nerve Root Pain

Some general preventive measures to avoid nerve root pain include maintaining proper posture throughout the day. One must be mindful of their physical activities to avoid spinal injury or possible pinching of the nerve. Exercising daily and doing warm-ups before and after, shall help one stay in active mode while minimising the risk of unexpected injury.

If an individual already has started experiencing nerve root pain, it is recommended that they do not put a halt to their daily activities as it will not help them get better. Rather, distracting oneself from the pain by partaking in usual activities shall help one feel the pain less. If necessary, painkillers may be resorted to.

Myths and Facts Related to Nerve Root Pain

The following are certain misconceptions associated with nerve root pain and the facts that bust the myths:

Myth 1: Nerve Root Pain Can Only Be Caused by a Pinched Nerve from an Accident
Fact: While car accidents or situations where one falls off a bed or a horse cause spinal injury and nerve root pain - it is not the only scenario that may lead to the condition. Nerve root pain can result from twisting, bending, or even moving one's head in a wrong manner. A lot of times, micro-traumas may be experienced by the body via everyday 'hits', finally resulting in pain.

Myth 2: Nerve Root Pain Can Only Be Fixed With Surgery
Fact: While there are surgery options available that eliminate nerve root pain, they are not the first resort. Certain drugs may be prescribed by healthcare professionals. Sometimes, the pain even goes away on its own. However, if the symptoms do not positively respond to the drugs, surgery may be required.

Myth 3: Nerve Root Pain Only Happens to Old People
Fact: Nerve root pain or spinal disorders in general, are not exclusive to older people. It can happen to anybody at any age, due to several reasons.