About radiculopathy and sciatica
Radiculopathy means a nerve root is irritated where it leaves the spine. In the low back, this often causes sciatica, a band of pain, tingling, or numbness that runs through the buttock and down the leg. In the neck, the same problem sends symptoms into the shoulder blade, arm, or hand.
The pain can feel sharp, burning, or electric, and it is often worse than the back or neck pain itself. The good news is that many people improve over weeks to a few months as the inflammation around the nerve calms down. Staying reasonably active usually helps more than bed rest.
Seek urgent care if you have new loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, weakness that is getting worse, or back pain with fever. These can signal nerve compression or infection that needs emergency evaluation.
Common symptoms
- Pain that travels from the low back or buttock down the leg, or from the neck into the arm
- Burning, tingling, or pins-and-needles in a specific strip of the leg, foot, arm, or hand
- Numbness in part of the foot or hand
- Weakness, such as a foot that catches when walking or a weak grip
- Pain that flares with sitting, coughing, sneezing, or bending forward
Common causes and risk factors
- A herniated or bulging disc pressing on a nearby nerve root
- Bone spurs and thickened joints from age-related spine wear that narrow the nerve opening
- Lifting, twisting, or a sudden increase in training load
- Prolonged sitting, smoking, and a family history of disc problems
How we diagnose it
Dr. Chen starts with a detailed history and a neurologic exam that checks strength, reflexes, and sensation to map which nerve root is involved. MRI is ordered when symptoms are severe, persistent, or paired with weakness, and when an injection is being planned. When the picture is unclear, an EMG and nerve conduction study, sometimes paired with nerve ultrasound, helps separate a pinched spinal nerve from a nerve trapped elsewhere in the limb.
How Propel treats radiculopathy and sciatica
Care starts conservatively. We use a short period of activity modification, not bed rest, followed by a progressive strength and mobility program that keeps you moving and gradually rebuilds your tolerance for sitting, lifting, and exercise. Sleep, overall training load, and short-term medication are part of the plan.
When leg or arm pain stays strong enough to block your rehab, Dr. Chen may recommend an image-guided epidural steroid injection to calm the inflamed nerve and create a window for progress. If you develop progressive weakness or signs of severe compression, we help coordinate a prompt surgical referral.
What to expect at your visit
- 1.
We listen first
Your visit opens with a real conversation: how the problem started, what you have already tried, and the activity you want back.
- 2.
Exam and in-office ultrasound
A hands-on exam, then ultrasound at the exam table, often while you move, so your physician can see the tendon, joint, or nerve involved.
- 3.
A clear diagnosis and plan
You leave knowing what is wrong and what your options are, from strength-based rehab to procedures, and why we recommend each one.
- 4.
Treatment and follow-through
Most procedures happen here in the office. We coordinate with your physical therapist and check progress against the goals you set.
Questions about radiculopathy and sciatica
- Is sciatica the same as a herniated disc?
- Not exactly. Sciatica describes the symptom of pain running down the leg along the sciatic nerve pathway, while a herniated disc is one of the most common causes. Bone spurs and narrowing of the nerve openings can cause the same symptom.
- Is an MRI needed for a pinched nerve?
- Many people with a pinched nerve improve without imaging. An MRI makes sense when pain is severe or lasting, when there is weakness or other concerning signs, or when an injection or surgery is being considered.
- Will an epidural injection fix a pinched nerve?
- An epidural steroid injection reduces inflammation around the nerve and can ease leg or arm pain, which often makes it easier to exercise and recover. It does not remove a disc bulge or bone spur. Its main role is to help you get through a painful stretch while the body and your rehab do the longer-term work.