Low Dose Lignocaine Injections as a Treatment Option for Acute Lumbosacral Radiculopathy
Low Dose Lignocaine Injections as a Treatment Option for Acute Lumbosacral Radiculopathy
Low back pain is one of the most common ailments that plagues patients, with nearly 80% of
 the population developing some form of back pain in their lifetime. Up regulated sodium
 channels in the nerve root or dorsal root ganglion are the basic cause for the
 mechano-sensitization and injecting the drug in the peripheral end of the nerve will block
 these sodium channels, since functionally both ends of the pseudo unipolar neuron are the
 same.
Low back pain is one of the most common ailments that plague patients, with nearly 80% of the
 population developing some form of back pain in their lifetime. Of all the causes of low back
 pain, the most common is lumbar radicular pain which may result from irritation of the nerve
 fibers or dorsal root ganglia due to intervertebral disc prolapse, degenerative
 spondylolisthesis or spinal canal stenosis. [1] Up regulated sodium channels in the nerve
 root or dorsal root ganglion are the basic cause for the mechano-sensitization and injecting
 the drug in the peripheral end of the nerve will block these sodium channels, since
 functionally both ends of the pseudo unipolar neuron are the same. [2]There have yet been no
 studies done to prove the efficacy of peripheral nerve block as an alternative to lumbar
 epidurals. We would like to share our experience of peripheral nerve blocks with low dose
 local Anaesthetics as the treatment of acute lumbosacral radiculopathy.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Age between 18 years to 60 years

 -  Pain involving up to two segmental levels (L4, L5 and S1).

 -  Average pain score of ≥5 on an 11-point NRS.

 -  Tenderness over the concordant peripheral nerves (Gore sign +)

 -  Computed tomography/Magnetic resonance imaging evidence of nerve root pain concordant
 with the side and level of clinical features.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Coagulopathy and/or patients on anticoagulants.

 -  Infection at the site of injection.

 -  Hypersensitivity to a local anaesthetic agent.

 -  Evidence of significant sensory or progressive motor deficit.

 -  Presence of cancer as a cause of back pain.

 -  History of previous backs surgery/epidural steroid injection.