Typical presentation
Pain runs from the low back or buttock down the back of the thigh into the calf or foot, often with numbness, tingling or weakness, and worsens with sitting, coughing or bending.
Underlying causes
Herniated disc, foraminal narrowing, spinal stenosis and piriformis or SI joint dysfunction are the usual culprits.
Treatment
Transforaminal epidural steroid injections reduce nerve inflammation and often break the pain cycle, allowing therapy to progress. Persistent weakness triggers surgical referral.
What this may include
- Transforaminal epidural steroid injections
- Selective nerve root blocks
- Neuropathic medication
- Nerve glide and stabilization therapy