Radiculopathy
Radiculopathy is defined as a pathological
condition of the nerve roots. Nerve roots are nerve fibers that branch off
the spinal cord in pairs: one to the left and one to the right. The nerve
roots are numbered according to where they are located in the spine. There
are nerve roots in the neck (cervical), mid back (thoracic) and the low
back (lumbosacral) areas. Nerve roots travel through small openings between
the vertebrae and connect to other nerves in the body. The nerves are
responsible for both sensation and motor function.
| When a nerve root is compressed or irritated
it can cause a person to experience pain, tingling, numbness or other
sensations in the area of the body that the nerve root serves. This is
called radiculitis and it is often referred to as radiating pain or
radiating symptoms. Physicians can diagnose radiculopathy using
a number of techniques. The first step in all diagnoses is a detailed
history. Next is a physical examination. Certain motions can cause or
increase neck or back pain or cause or increase radicular symptoms, which
can assist in making the diagnosis. Imaging studies such as CT scans
or
MRI might be able to show a compression of the nerve root.
An electromyogram and nerve conduction velocity test may
show irritation of a
particular nerve root.
When one has radiculopathy it can be treated
conservatively with rest,
traction, muscle strengthening and stretching. If
the condition does not improve epidural steroid injections may be used to
decrease the swelling of the nerve root. If all else fails surgical
intervention may be required to remove the cause of the compression on the
nerve root. |
|
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If the radiculopathy causes muscle weakness,
surgery is probably indicated and it should be performed sooner rather than
later. If too much time passes the nerve root may be permanently injured
and removing the cause of the compression will not restore the motor
function.
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