Question

In lay terms describe what a Lumbosacral Polyradiculopathy that is temporally related to epidural anesthesia is that was given for a Cesarean section.

Answer 1

Ans)Lumbar radiculopathy: Nerve irritation caused by damage to the discs between the vertebrae.

Damage to the disc occurs because of degeneration ("wear and tear") of the outer ring of the disc, traumatic injury, or both. As a result, the central softer portion of the disc can rupture (herniate) through the outer ring of the disc and abut the spinal cord or its nerves as they exit the bony spinal column. This rupture is what causes the commonly recognized pain of "sciatica" that shoots down the leg.

- Polyradiculopathy refers to damage to multiple nerve roots sufficient to produce neurologic symptoms and signs such as pain, weakness, and sensory loss.

- The signs and symptoms of polyradiculopathy by spinal region, and provide an overview of the most common etiologies.

- The patient has a condition that is temporarily related to the epidural injection she was given at the end of October 2008, prior to her Cesarean section. It appears she became aware of weakness within two days of the administration of the epidural, she was very tired during the epidural and may have missed some change in her neurological function. She was severely weak in both lower extremities, slightly worse on the right than the left.