Sciatica from Chemical Radiculitis
Sciatica from chemical radiculitis is a highly controversial medical subject, since many doctors do not agree that the CR condition even exists, and if it does, that it may be capable of enacting widespread
sciatica pain,
rather than minor localized nerve symptoms. Chemical radiculitis is a process by which the spinal nerve tissues are chemically irritated by leaking intervertebral disc proteins. It is one of the possible explanations for structurally-induced sciatica symptoms, when an annular tear is present, but no definitive nerve compression is deemed to exist. This article will provide an account of how chemical nerve root irritation may be responsible for sciatica sufferings in rare instances. What is Chemical Radiculitis Sciatica?Chemical radiculitis is a theoretical condition in which a patient suffers a ruptured disc or annular tear and endures the leaking of internal disc proteins unto sensitive neurological tissues. The thought goes that this protein is an irritant and therefore creates pain when contact with nerves occurs.It must be noted that annular tears, disc ruptures and disc extrusions are commonplace and are not necessarily painful at all. Many patients have obvious conditions in which the disc proteins contact the nerves, but enact no pain at all. Therefore, it is part of the working theory that only some patients may have particular sensitivities to the disc proteins enough to warrant painful expressions in neurological tissue. Sciatica from Chemical Radiculitis QuestionsEven in patients who may show the susceptibility to pain from chemical irritation conditions, it is not clear why sciatica would be the result, as opposed to localized nerve pain. Most of the nerves in question are small and located in the vicinity of the herniation, including in and around the spinal joints and vertebral endplates.Of course, if the tissue in question is a spinal nerve root which makes contact with the irritating proteins, then at least there is some viability for the diagnosis to be correct. However, even in the vast majority of these possible scenarios, the symptoms produced are far too diverse and affective to be produced from single level protein irritant contact with a nerve root, basically voiding the diagnostic theory in most cases. Sciatica from Chemical Radiculitis AdviceChemical radiculitis is a diagnosis which often comes into play after multiple failed attempts at treatment for a herniated disc using conservative, moderate or even surgical modalities. Eventually if the patient demands answers that the doctor can not provide them, the chemical radiculitis diagnosis may be proposed, particularly in patients with known annular tears, ruptures or extrusions.In cases where the diagnosis is correct, flushing injections can usually relieve the symptoms and if no improvement is experienced from multiple rounds of epidural injections, then patients would be wise to truly reconsider the validity of the diagnosed theory. To learn more about chemical irritation of the spinal nerve structures, consult with your neurologist. Sciatica from Chemical Radiculitis to Sciatica 2/3/11 Revised 4/5/12 |
Mission Statement
Editorial Board
Legal
Privacy Policy
Site Funding Disclosure
Source Material
This website is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Any medical condition should be referred to a qualified medical professional.
This website is designed to complement, but never replace, the relationship between doctor and patient.