Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The prognosis of self-reported paresthesia and weakness in disc-related sciatica

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Spine Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

Purpose

To explore how patients with sciatica rate the ‘bothersomeness’ of paresthesia (tingling and numbness) and weakness as compared with leg pain during 2 years of follow-up.

Methods

Observational cohort study including 380 patients with sciatica and lumbar disc herniation referred to secondary care. Using the Sciatica Bothersomeness Index paresthesia, weakness and leg pain were rated on a scale from 0 to 6. A symptom score of 4–6 was defined as bothersome.

Results

Along with leg pain, the bothersomeness of paresthesia and weakness both improved during follow-up. Those who received surgery (n = 121) reported larger improvements in both symptoms than did those who were treated without surgery. At 2 years, 18.2 % of the patients reported bothersome paresthesia, 16.6 % reported bothersome leg pain, and 11.5 % reported bothersome weakness. Among patients with no or little leg pain, 6.7 % reported bothersome paresthesia and 5.1 % bothersome weakness.

Conclusion

During 2 years of follow-up, patients considered paresthesia more bothersome than weakness. At 2 years, the percentage of patients who reported bothersome paresthesia was similar to the percentage who reported bothersome leg pain. Based on patients’ self-report, paresthesia and weakness are relevant aspects of disc-related sciatica.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Atlas SJ, Deyo RA, Keller RB, Chapin AM, Patrick DL, Long JM, Singer DE (1996) The Maine Lumbar Spine Study, Part II. 1-year outcomes of surgical and nonsurgical management of sciatica. Spine 21:1777–1786

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Barry MJ, Fowler FJ Jr, O’Leary MP, Bruskewitz RC, Holtgrewe HL, Mebust WK, Cockett AT (1992) The American Urological Association symptom index for benign prostatic hyperplasia. The Measurement Committee of the American Urological Association. J Urol 148:1549–1557

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Boyd D, Butler M, Carr D, Cohen M, Devor M, Dworkin R, Greenspan J et al (2011) IASP taxonomy. http://www.iasppain.org/Content/NavigationMenu/GeneralResourceLinks/PainDefinitions/default.htm. Accessed 20 Nov 2012

  4. Cramer JA, Silberstein SD, Winner P (2001) Development and validation of the Headache Needs Assessment (HANA) survey. Headache 41:402–409

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Daltroy LH, Cats-Baril WL, Katz JN, Fossel AH, Liang MH (1996) The North American Spine Society lumbar spine outcome assessment Instrument: reliability and validity tests. Spine 21:741–749

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Eriksen HR, Ihlebaek C, Ursin H (1999) A scoring system for subjective health complaints (SHC). Scand J Public Health 27:63–72

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Fishbain DA, Cole B, Cutler RB, Lewis J, Rosomoff HL, Rosomoff RS (2003) A structured evidence-based review on the meaning of nonorganic physical signs: Waddell signs. Pain Med 4:141–181

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Forss N, Jousmaki V (1998) Sensorimotor integration in human primary and secondary somatosensory cortices. Brain Res 781:259–267

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Freund HJ (2001) The parietal lobe as a sensorimotor interface: a perspective from clinical and neuroimaging data. Neuroimage 14:S142–S146

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Geber C, Magerl W, Fondel R, Fechir M, Rolke R, Vogt T, Treede RD, Birklein F (2008) Numbness in clinical and experimental pain–a cross-sectional study exploring the mechanisms of reduced tactile function. Pain 139:73–81

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Grovle L, Haugen AJ, Keller A, Natvig B, Brox JI, Grotle M (2008) Reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Norwegian versions of the Maine-Seattle Back questionnaire and the sciatica bothersomeness and frequency indices. Spine 33:2347–2353

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Grovle L, Haugen AJ, Keller A, Natvig B, Brox JI, Grotle M (2010) The bothersomeness of sciatica: patients’ self-report of paresthesia, weakness and leg pain. Eur Spine J 19:263–269

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Hagen KB, Thune O (1998) Work incapacity from low back pain in the general population. Spine 23:2091–2095

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Haugen AJ, Grovle L, Keller A, Grotle M (2008) Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Norwegian version of the Tampa scale for kinesiophobia. Spine 33:E595–E601

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Haugen AJ, Grovle L, Brox JI, Natvig B, Keller A, Soldal D, Grotle M (2011) Estimates of success in patients with sciatica due to lumbar disc herniation depend upon outcome measure. Eur Spine J 20:1669–1675

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Hesbacher PT, Rickels K, Morris RJ, Newman H, Rosenfeld H (1980) Psychiatric illness in family practice. J Clin Psychiatry 41:6–10

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Koes BW, van Tulder MW, Peul WC (2007) Diagnosis and treatment of sciatica. BMJ 334:1313–1317

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Ong BN, Konstantinou K, Corbett M, Hay E (2011) Patients’ own accounts of sciatica: a qualitative study. Spine 36:1251–1256

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Patrick DL, Deyo RA, Atlas SJ, Singer DE, Chapin A, Keller RB (1995) Assessing health-related quality of life in patients with sciatica. Spine 20:1899–1908

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Peul WC, van Houwelingen HC, van den Hout WB, Brand R, Eekhof JA, Tans JT, Thomeer RT, Koes BW, Leiden-The Hague Spine Intervention Prognostic Study Group (2007) Surgery versus prolonged conservative treatment for sciatica. N Engl J Med 356:2245–2256

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Selim AJ, Ren XS, Fincke G, Deyo RA, Rogers W, Miller D, Linzer M, Kazis L (1998) The importance of radiating leg pain in assessing health outcomes among patients with low back pain. Results from the Veterans Health Study. Spine 23:470–474

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Steen N, Hutchinson A, McColl E, Eccles MP, Hewison J, Meadows KA, Blades SM, Fowler P (1994) Development of a symptom based outcome measure for asthma. BMJ 309:1065

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Takahashi N, Yabuki S, Aoki Y, Kikuchi S (2003) Pathomechanisms of nerve root injury caused by disc herniation: an experimental study of mechanical compression and chemical irritation. Spine 28:435–441

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Vingard E, Mortimer M, Wiktorin C, Pernold RPTG, Fredriksson K, Nemeth G, Alfredsson L, Musculoskeletal Intervention Center-Norrtalje Study Group (2002) Seeking care for low back pain in the general population: a two-year follow-up study: results from the MUSIC-Norrtalje Study. Spine 27:2159–2165

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Ware JE (2000) SF-36 health survey update. Spine 25:3130–3139

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Weinstein JN, Tosteson TD, Lurie JD, Tosteson AN, Hanscom B, Skinner JS, Abdu WA, Hilibrand AS, Boden SD, Deyo RA (2006) Surgical vs nonoperative treatment for lumbar disk herniation: the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT): a randomized trial. JAMA 296:2441–2450

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Wright V, Hopkins R (1977) Communicating with the rheumatic patient. Rheumatol Rehabil 16:107–118

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Funding for this study was received from the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority; no support was received from commercial sources. We thank Anne Keller, Eli Molde Hagen, Dag Soldal, Knut Morten Huneide, Anett Bjørnødegard Hångmann, and Bjarte Justnæs for their help with collecting data and Professor Leiv Sandvik for statistical advice.

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology, Sykehuset Østfold Hospital Trust, 1603, Fredrikstad, Norway

    L. Grøvle & A. J. Haugen

  2. Department of General Practice Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    B. Natvig

  3. Section for Back Surgery, Orthopaedic Department, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway

    J. I. Brox

  4. FORMI (Communication Unit for Musculoskeletal Disorders), Division of Neuroscience, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Oslo, Norway

    M. Grotle

  5. Department of Rheumatology, National Resource Centre for Rehabilitation in Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway

    M. Grotle

Authors
  1. L. Grøvle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. J. Haugen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. Natvig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. I. Brox
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. Grotle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Grøvle.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Grøvle, L., Haugen, A.J., Natvig, B. et al. The prognosis of self-reported paresthesia and weakness in disc-related sciatica. Eur Spine J 22, 2488–2495 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-2871-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-2871-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation