Nerve Roots

Nerve roots branch off the actual spinal cord and form the network of neurological tissue found throughout our bodies. Spinal nerves exit from the cord at every vertebral level; one pair to the left and one pair to the right. Each nerve pair consists of a ventral root and a dorsal root, controlling the abilities of movement and sensation, respectively.

Nerve Roots

Function of Nerve Roots

The spinal nerves link the spinal cord to the vast network of nerve tissue in the body called the peripheral nervous system. This network carries the sensory and motor messages responsible for all our physical sensations and movements, between the physical anatomy and the brain.

The sciatic nerve is the largest single nerve in the body and is made up of neurological roots from the L4, L5, S1, S2 and S3 vertebral levels. This huge nerve serves the neurological needs of the entire lower body. Any disturbance or injury to any of these roots might cause problems for the patient, commonly called sciatica.

Compression of Nerve Roots

Most sciatica pain syndromes are blamed on continued compression of a nerve in the lower lumbar spine. These "pinched nerves" are said to reduce function, create pain and the commonly experienced tingling, numbness and/or weakness in affected regions. Structural nerve compression is entirely possible, but is actually quite rare. Most diagnosed conditions are incorrectly attributed to compression and are usually the result of the ischemic sciatica process. Mistakenly diagnosed dorsopathy is a huge problem in the medical system and accounts for the virtual ineffectiveness of many sciatica treatments.

Advice on Nerve Roots

I suffered enough pain for 18 long years to know a bit about spinal nerves. My pain was blamed on foraminal stenosis caused by 2 herniated discs located at L4/L5 and L5/S1. These discs were supposed to be compressing the neurological roots, causing me to have the ongoing acute and chronic pain which literally ruled my life. While some of my symptoms made sense from this diagnosis, others simply did not fit the clinical profile which would be expected. Basically, my sciatica symptoms were too wide ranging and diverse to be explained from these 2 herniated discs…

Well, it turns out that this was no surprise, since I was misdiagnosed all along. My pain was actually caused by ischemia, as are most chronic sciatica concerns. After trying almost every possible herniated disc treatment without success, I found true and lasting relief using knowledge therapy. I recommend this program to all back pain patients, since it can cure many and will help all. There is no risk and no expense. There is no ongoing medical treatment needed… The only thing you have to lose is your pain and that sounds like a very good thing indeed…

Nerve Roots to Sciatica Home
7/14/08 Revised 12/18/09