Spine Specialty
Radiating Spine Pain
Radiating Spine Pain Specialist in Columbia, SC
What is Radiating Spine Pain?
Often referred to as “radicular pain,” radiating spine pain is when pain travels from the spine to other body parts. Radiating spine pain can vary from mild to severe and impact daily life, limiting mobility. There are treatment options to manage radiating spine pain once your orthopedic team understands the underlying causes and has ruled out anything emergent.
Radiating Spine Pain Causes
Some of the causes of radiating spine pain include:
- Herniated disc
- Spinal stenosis
- Bone spurs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Ligament or muscle strain
- Arthritis
- Infections
- Fractures, injury, or trauma to the spine
- Radiculopathy
- Nerve damage
Radiating spine pain is caused when something structural in the spine, such as a herniated disc or bone spur, puts pressure on a nerve, causing pain to radiate to other body areas, most commonly the arms and legs. You can minimize your risk of radiating spine pain by maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly, exercising caution when lifting heavy objects, and practicing good posture.
Radiating Spine Pain Causes
Some patients have mild symptoms of radiating spine pain that comes and goes; others may have extreme pain that radiates into the arms or legs. Symptoms of radiating spine pain includes:
- Burning sensation that travels from the back to the affected limb
- Numbness and tingling in the arm or leg
- Weakness in the affected limb
- Muscle spasms in the back and limb
- Pain that shoots through the lower back into the buttocks
The Spine Physicians, Pain Management Team, and Physical Therapy Staff at Midlands Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery will work together to provide a personalized approach to treat your herniated disc pain and symptoms.
Radiating Spine Pain Diagnosis and Treatment
Understanding the underlying cause of your radiating spine pain is essential as your treatment options vary.
If you’re experiencing persistent radiating spine pain, your orthopedic specialist will perform an examination and get a complete medical history. It’s important to tell your doctor if you’ve suffered any recent or past injury to the spine, such as experiencing a fall, so that they can make an informed treatment recommendation. From there, they’ll recommend imaging such as X-rays, CT scans, or an MRI to get a visual confirmation of your diagnosis.
Treatment options for radiating spine pain include:
- Eliminating activities that cause discomfort or pain
- Physical therapy
- NSAIDS
- Spinal injections
- Surgery
Surgery may be recommended for patients who have not seen a decrease in pain after incorporating physical therapy or lifestyle changes into their daily routine. Standard surgical options for radiating spine pain include spinal fusion, disc replacement, decompression surgery, and more.
Radiating Spine Pain Doctor in South Carolina
Midlands Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery is here to help you understand the causes of your radiating spine pain and help you regain mobility and a higher quality of life. If you have been struggling with radiating spine pain that is not responding to lifestyle changes, see one of our expert physicians to help you. Call us at (803)256-4107 to schedule an appointment, or click below to schedule your appointment online.