https://twitter.com/jennlanept/status/983434889163784192

What Causes Low Back Pain and Sciatica in Older Adults?

What Causes Low Back Pain and Sciatica in Older Adults? 682 1023 Jennifer Lane

In patients 80 years and older, what causes low back pain and radiating pain into the leg? The incidence of lumbar disc herniation increases into adulthood but it then decreases significantly in people 80 years and older. So what is causing low back pain and sciatica symptoms? Spinal stenosis, the narrowing of the spinal column, foraminal stenosis, the narrowing of the opening through which nerves travel through or nerve root compression can all cause the classic radiating pain into the leg.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3743527/

Why is this important? Because the treatment for a disc herniation versus stenosis can be very different. Treatment that can reduce radiating pain for a patient with a herniated disc could increase the pain for a patient with stenosis. A careful evaluation performed by a Physical Therapist can help determine what is causing the pain and then can develop the appropriate plan of care.

Back to top
Privacy Preferences

When you visit our website, it may store information through your browser from specific services, usually in the form of cookies. Here you can change your Privacy preferences. It is worth noting that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our website and the services we are able to offer.

Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking code.
Click to enable/disable Google Fonts.
Click to enable/disable Google Maps.
Click to enable/disable video embeds.
Our website uses cookies, mainly from 3rd party services. Define your Privacy Preferences and/or agree to our use of cookies.