Nerve |
Symptoms |
Signs |
L5 |
Back pain radiating down the lateral leg to foot |
Decreased foot dorsiflexion, toe extension, foot inversion and eversion; mild weakness of leg abduction in severe cases |
S1 |
Pain radiating down the posterior leg to foot; leg pain greater than back pain |
Decreased leg extension, foot inversion, plantar flexion, and toe flexion; decreased sensation in the posterior leg and lateral foot; loss of ankle jerk |
L2-4 |
Acute back pain radiating around the anterior leg into the knee and possibly foot |
Decreased hip flexion, knee extension, leg abduction; decreased sensation in the anterior thigh down the medial aspect of the shin; diminished knee jerk in severe cases |
S2-4 |
Sacral or buttock pain radiating down the posterior leg or into the perineum |
Minimal weakness; bowel and bladder dysfunction |