What is Radiculopathy?

Radiculopathy arises from a pinched nerve that finds itself on your spine. Generally, it occurs from an irritation or compression caused at your nerve roots or joints between your nerves and the spinal column. Otherwise referred to as radiculitis.

Radiculopathy will make the skin around your involved nerve painful or pained, numb, and tingly.

Depending on where along your spine the pinched nerve is, your healthcare provider will classify the radiculopathy as one of three types:

Cervical radiculopathy, or neck.
Upper middle back-thoracic radiculopathy.
Lumbar radiculopathy (low back).

Usually, correcting your posture, taking over-the-counter medication, or doing at-home physical therapy exercises are all you'll need to eliminate the symptoms of radiculopathy. Some cases of radiculopathy even improve without any treatment at all.

Who does radiculopathy affect?

It can affect anybody, but it is common in people 50 years and above.

How prevalent is radiculopathy?

It is rare. While neck and back pain, especially in the lower back, are common problems, they rarely are due to radiculopathy.

What does my body feel like when I have radiculopathy?

The most glaring effect of radiculopathy on your body is the pain and other symptoms that it causes around the pinched nerve.

Depending on the severity of your symptoms and the type of radiculopathy you have, sitting, standing, or moving may be difficult or challenging. For instance, moving your neck may be unpleasant and challenging if you have cervical radiculopathy.

What are the signs of radiculopathy?

Radiculopathy symptoms include pain in the vicinity of the injured nerve.

Tingling.
Numbness.
Weakening of the muscles.

The type of radiculopathy you have determines the location of your symptoms.

Cervical radiculopathy: You may feel pain and other symptoms along and around your neck that sometimes may radiate along with your arms and to the hands.
Thoracic radiculopathy: This likely includes chest pain across its region, which should feel painful when you inhale or exhale.
Lumbar radiculopathy: The lower back, with pain or even numbness, may spread towards your legs.

Some symptoms of radiculopathy are confused with others, and they may be very dangerous. Don't take lightly to the feeling of chest pains or discomfort when breathing or you experience numbness in your limbs. Consult your doctor for this symptom.

What is the cause of radiculopathy?

Anything that compresses or irritates the roots of your spinal nerves can lead to radiculopathy. This includes:

Trauma like a fall or car accident
Bones Spurs that may have developed in any of your vertebrae.
Herniated disc: It also referred to as slipped, ruptured, or bulging discs.

You may acquire radiculopathy without any direct cause except that you are growing old. As the person ages, his bones, along with the discs in his spine, gradually lose their shape and flexibility. Such natural degeneration and weakening causes the spine to shift enough to pinch a nerve.

How is radiculopathy diagnosed?

Your doctor diagnoses radiculopathy by conducting a physical exam and radiologic studies. They will examine your back and spine, discuss your symptoms with you, and then request your description of the sensations you may be experiencing.

You likely will require one of the following radiologic studies:

X-ray: An X-ray can show you the narrowing or altered alignment of your spinal cord and even spinal fractures.
Computed tomography (CT) scan: A CT scan shows three-dimensional images of your spine, revealing details that an X-ray could not.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can show whether damage to soft tissues is causing nerve compression and indicate damage to the spinal cord.
Electromyography (EMG): An EMG captures the electrical activity in your muscles. This will help them determine if a nerve is functioning correctly. Your healthcare provider uses this as a guideline whether your condition is due to your spinal nerve roots compression or damaged due to other health conditions (such as diabetes)

How is radiculopathy treated?

Treatment depends on the nature of your radiculopathy, where precisely the pinched nerve within your spine is, and the severity of your symptoms. Most do not need formal treatment for their condition if it responds to the self-illness in a few days or weeks.

If you will have to receive treatment, the treatment can include all of the following:

Ice or heat: Your doctor will tell you how often to apply ice or heat to your back to relieve swelling or ease tight muscles.
Posturing or physical therapy: Stretching and exercises aimed at the region of your spine can help alleviate pressure on your nerves and, hence, relieve the pain. Enhancing your general posture will reduce stress on your spine, thus relieving symptoms. Your healthcare provider or a physical therapist should advise you on what types of exercises are best for your type of radiculopathy.

What drugs can be administered to treat radiculopathy?

OTC NSAIDs: Minor cases are usually treated by over the counter NSAIDs, these include aspirin, ibuprofen, etc. Before prolonging use of a NSAID for more than 10 days, you have to ask your doctor for advice on the same
Corticosteroids: In some instances, your healthcare provider would prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs known as corticosteroids, commonly prednisone. Your healthcare provider could administer such drugs in two ways: oral tablet or injection into a specific place in your back, where a nerve is compressed. Surgery in the case of radiculopathy
Surgery: Surgery is optional to treat radiculopathy. Your doctor can prescribe surgery if the symptoms are so severe that you can't continue your everyday life and don't respond well to other forms of treatment. Your doctor will explain what surgery to anticipate and what you may experience post-surgery.

How soon should I expect to recover from my condition after being treated?

You should start feeling better over time as you begin treating radiculopathy symptoms. Some people get better in a few days, but sometimes it takes a few weeks.

How can I prevent radiculopathy?

It is impossible to prevent many of the causes of radiculopathy. Some of the deterioration that might result in radiculopathy may be avoided with proper posture and spine health.

What can I expect if I have radiculopathy?

The patient is expected to recover completely from a radiculopathy episode. Although it can be painful and inconvenient, it is generally a transient condition.

How long does the condition last?

It depends on what may have caused your radiculopathy and what type of it you are experiencing. Most people generally feel much better in a few weeks or even sooner. In some cases, especially when the symptoms are pretty severe or you have some other conditions affecting your spine, it might take even longer.

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When to seek medical care?

See your healthcare provider if you have new back or spine symptoms, significantly if they are worsening over a few days. Many conditions can have similar symptoms, so you must see your healthcare provider immediately. They will ensure you do not have a more serious condition or injury.

Why Tender Palm Super Speciality Hospital for Radiculopathy Treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Hospital has a highly experienced team of spine surgeons and diagnosticians who implement the latest international standard infection control measures. The spine surgery team has decades of experience in treating Radiculopathy in Lucknow India.