Chronic Low Back Pain and Radiculopathy: An Overview, Key Points, and Treatment Approaches

Low back pain (LBP) is a major health, social, and economic concern worldwide. It was once believed to be mainly caused by nerve compression from a degenerated intervertebral disc (DID), but it’s now seen as a complex condition involving mechanical, inflammatory, compressive, immune, and degenerative factors. Even with medical progress, treatment remains tough, as many options offer limited relief or cause unwanted side effects. When standard methods don’t work, surgery is often considered, though it has its own risks and limits. This review examines the pathophysiology and the role of inflammation in the DID and nerve root damage, and presents a minimally invasive, outpatient treatment aimed at targeting both the disc and affected nerves to reverse the problem rather than just easing compression. In a study of 88 patients followed over one and two years, results showed significant improvements in pain, neuropathic symptoms, and disability, with no reported side effects.