By Sandra Gotman, DPM • April 10, 2019 • No Comments
The following information may help you understand many foot and lower leg problems:
Your feet and lower legs are innervated by the nerves that exit your lower back coming from the lumbar nerves roots four and five and the sacral nerves one and two. This may sound complicated, but what it means for you is that if you are lying down at night and get leg cramps, it is most likely an impingement of these nerves with regards to your sleep position.
In addition, when you begin to notice changes in the alignment of your toes or development of other foot deformities, as a podiatrist, I can often attribute these to muscle imbalances as a result of the compression of these nerve roots.
Lumbar radiculopathy refers to disease involving the lumbar spinal nerve root. It is typically caused by a compression of the spinal nerve root. Sciatica is the term you may often hear people using. Many disease can cause lumbar radiculopathy, but most often it is a structural problem like a herniated disc, bone spur, or a traumatic event. When the disc is damaged, material in the disc leaks and squeezes the nerve root. This can cause numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness. Sciatica is pain that radiates from the back down the back of the leg, and is a common manifestation of lumbar radiculopathy.
I always incorporate an exam for lumbar sacral radiculopathy when I assess my patients who suffer from foot pain, foot deformities or other lower leg problems because of the possibility for nerve root compression. In many cases, I will request an MRI of the low back along with nerve conduction studies to help make the proper diagnosis. Treatment varies depending on the actual cause of the radiculopathy.
We are here for all your foot care need. You may come and see me by scheduling an appointment at 305-229-9595.
We work to make every aspect of your visit the most satisfying experience you’ve had. We treat patients of all ages, and our friendly staff strives to ensure a pleasant office visit.
Miami Podiatrist Dr. Sandra Gotman provides each patient with the information you need to make good choices about your foot and ankle care. We don’t simply want to tell you about your diagnoses; we also want to work with you to determine the best plan for treatment of your foot and ankle discomfort.
We approach foot and ankle care with a humble, yet educated and experienced approach.
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Tuesday: 9:00AM – 5:00PM
Wednesday: 9:00AM – 5:00PM
Thursday: 1:30PM – 6:00PM
Friday: 9:00AM – 5:00PM