JORR
Journal of Orthopedics Research and Rehabilitation

The Journal of Orthopedics Research and Rehabilitation welcomes scholarly papers in orthopaedic surgery, physical therapy and rehabilitation, physiotherapy, neurology and clinic anesthesiology and reanimation.

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Original Article
Beyond pain: sleep quality impairment in lumbosacral radiculopathy
Abstract
Aims: Lumbosacral radiculopathy is one of the major causes of neuropathic pain, and sleep quality may be impaired secondary to neuropathic pain in these patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between neuropathic pain and sleep quality in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy.
Methods: In this retrospective study, 30 patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy detected on magnetic resonance imaging were included. All patients were electrophysiologically evaluated for lumbosacral radiculopathy. The Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) questionnaire was used to assess neuropathic pain, and the Jenkins Sleep Scale was administered to evaluate sleep quality. A DN4 score of 4 or higher indicates neuropathic pain. Patients with a Jenkins Sleep Scale score of <9 were assigned to the mild sleep impairment group, whereas those with a score >9 were assigned to the moderate-to-severe sleep impairment group.
Results: Thirty patients (12 males, 18 females) diagnosed with lumbosacral radiculopathy based on neuroimaging findings were included in the study. Electrophysiological findings confirmed lumbosacral radiculopathy in 17 patients. Neuropathic pain was present in all patients. Impaired sleep quality was observed in patients with higher neuropathic pain scores. A positive correlation was found between DN4 scores and Jenkins Sleep Scale scores (p=0.006, r=0.487)
Conclusion: Neuropathic pain associated with lumbosacral radiculopathy may lead to impaired nocturnal sleep quality. The relationship between neuropathic pain and sleep quality may be associated with the severity and duration of neuropathic pain. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to clarify this relationship.

Keywords : Lumbosacral radiculopathy, neuropathic pain, sleep quality

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Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Scientific Researches Ethics Committee of Adana City Training and Research Hospital (Date: 18.12.2025, Decision No: 946).

Informed Consent

This retrospective study used pre-existing anonymized patient data. No additional intervention was performed, and there was no direct patient contact. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee, and the requirement for written informed consent was waived by the ethics committee.

Author Contributions

Concept: HF, ŞB; Design: HF, ŞB; Control: HF, ŞB; Resources: HF, ŞB; Materials: HF; Data Collection and/or Processing: HF, ŞB; Analysis and/or Interpretation: HF, ŞB; Literature Review: ŞB; Writing The Article: HF, ŞB; Critical Review: HF, ŞB.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this study.

Financial Disclosure

The authors received no financial support for the conduct or publication of this research.


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Article available in :
Volume 4, Issue 4, 2026
Page : 83-86
https://doi.org/10.51271/JORR-0077
Article Information
Received : 17 Tem 2026
Accepted : 18 Ağu 2026
Published : 28 Eki 2026
Corresponding Author :

Şencan Buturak: Department of Neurology, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Buturak Ş, Fidancı H. Beyond pain: sleep quality impairment in lumbosacral radiculopathy neuropathic pain and sleep in lumbosacral radiculopathy. J Orthop Res Rehabil. 2026;4(4):83-86. doi:10.51271/JORR-0077

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