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Radiculopathy is a condition where the root of the nerves along the spine causes moderate to severe pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness along the course of the nerve. Sometimes these symptoms manifest in an extremity through a process called referred pain. Radiculopathy is a type of neuropathy, meaning that affected nerves do not work as they normally would due to inflammation, compression – as in the case of disc herniation, and/or lack of blood flow. The nerve could also be affected by a progressive disease – like degenerative disc disease – that is destroying it in part or in whole.
Types of Radiculopathy:
Cervical Radiculopathy – radiculopathy in the cervical spine (or neck and shoulders).
Lumbar Radiculopathy – radiculopathy in the lumbar spine (or lower back and buttocks).
Thoracic Radiculopathy – radiculopathy in the thoracic spine (or middle portion of the spine).
To find out more information on cervical or lumbar radiculopathy, click on the links above. To receive a diagnosis, your physician will ask you to undergo a complete medical history and physical examination. In some instances, a series of X-rays, CT (computed tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans may be ordered to detect problems at the root of the spinal nerves and/or to determine a cause for a patient’s pain.
The goal of radiculopathy treatment is to resolve the underlying cause and restore the nerve root to a normal function. Depending on the type of radiculopathy and severity of the patient’s health condition, a number of treatments may be considered to provide symptomatic relief and a better quality of life. In many cases, conservative (non-surgical) treatment may be pursued, which can consist of rest, patient-specific exercises, weight loss, and medications in the form of oral prescriptions or injections. Patients who do not respond well to conservative treatment may be candidates for minimally invasive spinal back surgery, involving disc implants or vertebral fusion. Your physician will help you decide what radiculopathy treatment is best for you and your condition.
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