LOWER BACK PAIN: Damaged nerve roots

Speaking about lower back pain, there are four nerve roots which enter the legs from the lower back that are the sites of pain. When these nerve roots are irritated, the resultant pain is described as sciatica.


They are labeled L3, L4, L5 and S1, named after the pieces of back bone below, which they emerge from the spine. The nerve roots S1, is most often affected and the pain shoots down through the back of the thigh to the back of the leg and ends in the outer side of the foot.


The sciatica affecting L5 nerve roots which are next common also cause pain to shoot through the back of the thigh then through the outer side of the leg to the inner side of the foot. When there is pressure on L5 or S1 nerve roots, the person is said to have sciatica, after the name of a major nerve to the leg and foot.


Less common is the problem of the L4 & L3. Apart from shooting pain, the person may have cramps and stiffness of the muscle of the thigh. Summarily, if L5 & S1 nerve roots are affected, the person may have stiffness at the back of the thigh and calf muscles, if the pressure on the nerve roots continues the nerve may become damaged.


Unlike other parts of the body {e.g. muscles and bones} recovery of a damaged nerve is very slow if at all. Therefore, at the first sign of nerve damage, the pressure on the nerve must be removed. Numbness {loss of feeling} which may follow tingling and burning feeling is one of the early signs of damage to the nerve.


Later, the leg feels heavy to move and this may be followed by paralysis of the leg depending on which nerve root is damaged. If S1 nerve root is damaged, the victim would be unable to walk on his toes. With damage to L5 the person would be unable to walk on the heel of the foot.


With damage to L2, L3 & L4 nerve roots, pain at the hip and thigh will be present. Weakness of the thigh muscles will be present, hence prolong walking and standing will be difficult, even climbing a stair would be almost impossible.