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What Are the Treatments for a Pinched Nerve in the Back With Leg Pain?

A pinched nerve in the back can cause back pain and pain that radiates down the leg. Many people who suffer from this condition often find relief with non-surgical methods. However, for some people, the pain associated with a pinched nerve can be severe and life-changing.

  1. Identification

    • A pinched nerve can cause compression of the nerve roots, which can result in a condition called sciatica. Symptoms of sciatica include tingling or burning pain that radiates from the back and down the leg.

    Symptoms

    • Sciatica usually affects one side of the lower body, with pain radiating from the back down the length of the leg. Some people who suffer from this condition also have pain in the foot and toes.

    Non-Surgical Treatment

    • The majority of the people who suffer from sciatica caused by a pinched nerve in the back recover with non-surgical treatments. Applying heat packs or ice packs, depending on which provides the most relief, is one way to treat back and leg pain. NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) may also help alleviate pain. For severe back and leg pain, an epidural injection may provide more prolonged pain relief. Physical therapy can teach exercise techniques that can help provide relief as well.

    Surgical Treatments

    • If patients with severe back and leg pain have not gotten relief with non-surgical treatments within 12 weeks, surgery may be an option. A microdiscectomy is a surgical procedure that is most often used in patients with herniated discs. Approximately 90 percent of patients experience relief after this surgery. A lumbar laminectomy may be performed on patients who have had leg pain off and on for years that has worsened over time.

    Considerations

    • When seeking treatment for back and leg pain, your doctor will consider the duration of symptoms, your lifestyle and the severity of pain before deciding on the best treatment for you. Surgical treatments are typically considered only when non-surgical treatments have failed to provide pain relief.

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