Chemical irritation of lumbar nerves

@soby I'm not sure what "...caused by chemical irritation from degenerative lumbar discs..." means. Radiculopathy is by definition compression or irritation of the nerve root. MRIs and other images, as much as they have improved, are not perfect. And nerve pain does not always show up as compression - it can be from stress/stretching from changes in the spine and how we move. Another member has recently posted that their spine doctor wanted a different MRI view to get a better idea of the problem.

What treatment is your doctor recommending?

Hi Sue,
It's widely accepted that you can get chemical irritation of nerves
without compression or stress/stretching or changes in the spine.

The discs can release inflammatory substances, especially Degenerative Discs.
These can irritate the nerves and cause radiculopathy.

The problem is, how to treat. Dr. is recommening epidural steroids, but
have had 10+ with no effect.

@soby My doctor told me that when a disc ruptures and the nucleus material leaks out, it causes inflammation which in turn can cause arthritic changes and bone growth such as osteophytes aka “bone spurs”.
If the alignment between the pelvis and spine changes, it can mimic a lumbar spine condition and cause pain. If you look at mskneurology.com under the articles pages, there is information about a lumbar plexus compression syndrome.

Has a physical therapist evaluated your spine and pelvic alignment? My pelvis sometimes shifts and I can get leg pain which is relieved when it gets back in proper alignment. It’s possible to have pelvic issues in addition to any spine conditions.

Has your spine specialist considered this?

Hi Jennifer,

Yes, have had that looked at.
Have had minor SI Joint misalignment, now corrected.
Thanks for the input.

@soby Hi,
I had 8 root nerve blocks, they did give me relief for 4-5 months, until the last one in 2022 gave me a bad reaction which caused swelling , reddening of the skin on my thigh, more pain and wiped me out. Caused foot drop in my left leg, so muslces are week due to the compression and issues in hip joint

So I'm using temporay relief with acupuncture, cupping, hydro therapy, breath work, TENS machine, meditation, movement, and gentle exercise when I' m up to it.

I know the pain isn't going away it just progresses and gets worse, I've been living with lumbar spondylosis with radiculopathy, cervical radiculopathy and fibro since january 2013. So I'm used to the nerve pain and other symptoms, its tough, but I'm still smiling, living as much as an active life as I can. And not letting degenerative discs beat me!!

Wishing you comfort and peace! :))

@calmmylife57
Hi Calm,
Have you considered surgery?

@soby
I went to A&E last December with severe back symptoms. Thye gave me a full MRI and it showed that while a bone spur has developed in my neck that was causing the pain, I don't need surgery right now.

The nerve pain form my lumbar and sacral spine, is from impimgment of a nerve and has caused foot drop with weakness in my left leg, because of the location of my injury, surgery carries a risk of paralysis, so the safest path is to care for my spine gently. In the UK doctors only recommend surgery if it is absolutely necessary, they are not driven by money here as our healthcare is not via insurance. I'm at one of the best hospitals in the UK for neurologial injuries and the servcie is exceptional!

I had to advocate for myself by changing my GP surgery that I have been with for over 30 years, and change hospitals. I did that by reseraching everything about my conditions so when they recommended treatments and I knew there weren't of any benefit to me I quoted them the research reference so they knew they couldn't just pump me full of drug and offer treatments that were of no use to me. I get more holisitc care now under my new doctor and the new hospital.

I now navigate my daily life with a mix of gentle movement: low-impact exercise, walking, Tai Chi, Qigong, acupuncture, cupping, and hydrotherapy, TENS machine and breath work. These give me temporary relief, and I am grateful for every bit of comfort they bring! I also invest in seeing a therapist, which gives me a safe space to care for my mental health.

My pain changes and grows over time, but my mind remains resilient. Keeping a strong, healthy mindset is my absolute superpower currently. I turn 60 in October, I refuse to give up on my goals, I’m actually preparing to apply for a Master’s degree to study pain science so I can help find real answers for our community. :))

My story isn't over, and I still have so much more to do.

Calm, x

@calmmylife57 hi Calm

Interesting story . I totally sympathise with you . For five years now I have been struggling terribly with lumbar spine pain which controls and ruins my whole enjoyment of life . Disrupts my sleep and causes me all sorts of problems .! Almost ten months ago I underwent a major spine operation. Anterior lumbar interbody fusion at L4/5 with screws and cage . Considering I had been previously diagnosed with severe osteoporosis it was real brave of me to go ahead , they had a meeting of six spine surgeons and a rheumatologist who all agreed to go ahead . The op itself was successful and my recovery from the actual op has been long and still continues. However The depressing part is that it hasn’t solved my pain issue at all. In fact it hasn’t worsened. I am sensitive to medication so it’s all a nightmare !! I had a London surgeon perform my op but now we are all confused because MRI with gadolinium still shows no compression anywhere . My pain is very low down around S4/5 is burning day and night I can’t sit, lie down or stand for too long without pain . Had injections in the past to no avail .Tried everything. I was a very fit person all my life and miss it. I make myself walk every day even when I feel exhausted from lack of sleep . I am approaching 76 years old female . Don’t know what the way forward is now . Who is your doctor and hospital as I am also in UK.

@tiny28,
This is exactly why I will always listen to the private African female doctor who evaluated me during my car crash compensation claim. Hearing so many stories of people undergoing major surgery for L4, L5, and S1 only to remain in pain made me step back. Why risk major surgery, and the very real threat of paralysis, when the outcome isn't guaranteed?

I also had nerve root block injections for 6 years until I suffered a severe reaction: intense swelling in my left leg, severe skin reddening, foot drop, and excruciating pelvic pain. When my long standing GP of 30 years and the first Hospital in Birmingham, that managed my pain refused to acknowledge it, I reported it to the Yellow Card Scheme myself, and foundself a new GP and hospital. The Royal Orthopedic Hospital looks after my care now, I trained in sports and holistic therapies so I understand how to take care of my body, sometimes when it gets too challenging I need a reminder and that extra support.

It's been 13 years of living with severe pain daily, but I refuse to let it define me or hold me back. I utilse all the accomdations and services I need to live and function. There are mornings I wake up in agony, and several times when I have booked a train to see a London art exhibition. Rather than cancel, waste the ticket, or give up, I adapted. I took taxis from one location to another, moved at my own pace, and leaned on gallery staff for support when I arrived. It cost me more, but I couldn't afford to rebook and miss an artist's work that I love.

Pain might change how I do things, but I refuse to let it stop me from living!