Low back pain is a pervasive musculoskeletal complaint and one of the prevalent issues encountered in clinical practice. Given its prevalence and impact, the broad spectrum of differential diagnoses for low back pain includes lumbosacral radiculopathy—the leading cause of disability in the developed world for individuals aged 45 and younger. Lumbosacral radiculopathy is characterized by pain resulting from compression or irritation of nerve roots in the lumbosacral region of the spine, along with numbness, weakness, and reflex changes. This condition can manifest without overt lumbar pain, making its recognition crucial for timely intervention. The condition often arises due to degenerative changes such as disc herniation, ligamentum flavum changes, facet hypertrophy, or spondylolisthesis, leading to nerve root compression.Diagnosis involves a thorough physical examination, including tests such as the Lasègue test, and may require magnetic resonance imaging if symptoms persist despite conservative approaches such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acetaminophen, and gabapentin. Effective management often necessitates the involvement of an interprofessional healthcare team to enhance patient outcomes. This activity meticulously reviews the pathophysiology, symptomatology, and clinical presentation of lumbosacral radiculopathy, elucidating the diagnosis and differential considerations of the condition. This activity also highlights the essential roles of the interprofessional healthcare team in the comprehensive management of lumbosacral radiculopathy, underscoring the significance of recognizing lumbosacral radiculopathy, even in the absence of overt lumbar pain, to ensure timely intervention. By enhancing patient outcomes and fostering effective collaborative care, clinicians can better address the needs of individuals experiencing this complex pain syndrome.
- Provider:StatPearls, LLC
- Activity Link: https://www.statpearls.com/ArticleLibrary/viewarticle/24478
- Start Date: 2023-09-01 05:00:00
- End Date: 2023-09-01 05:00:00
- Credit Details: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™️: 1.5 hours
Nursing: 1.5 hours
Pharmacy: 1.5 hours - MOC Credit Details: ABS - 1.5 Point; Credit Type(s): Accredited CME (ABS)
ABOS - 1.5 Point; Credit Type(s): Accredited CME (ABOS)
ABPATH - 1.5 Point; Credit Type(s): Lifelong Learning (ABPATH)
ABA - 1.5 Point; Credit Type(s): Lifelong Learning (ABA)
ABIM - 1.5 Point; Credit Type(s): Medical Knowledge (ABIM)
ABS - 1.5 Point; Credit Type(s): Self-Assessment (ABS)
ABP - 1.5 Point; Credit Type(s): Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment (ABP) - Commercial Support: No
- Activity Type: Enduring Material
- CME Finder Type: Online Learning
- Fee to Participate: Variable
- Measured Outcome: Learner Knowledge, Learner/Team Competence
- Provider Ship: Directly Provided
- Registration: Open to all
- Specialty: Adolescent Medicine, Adult Reconstruction, Clinical Pathology, Foot and Ankle, General Orthopaedics, General Pediatrics, General Surgery, Geriatric Medicine, Hospital Medicine, Infectious Disease, Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology, Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Pediatric Rheumatology, Regional Anesthesia/Acute Pain, Rheumatology, Soft Tissue & Bone, Sports Medicine, Surgery of the Spine, Trauma