Commonly referred to as a pinched nerve, radiculopathy is injury or damage to nerve roots in the area where they leave the spine. This condition can affect anyone and can be the result disc degeneration, disc herniation or other trauma.
Cervical radiculopathy: Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve in the neck is compressed or irritated at the point where it leaves the spinal cord. This can result in pain in shoulders, and muscle weakness and numbness that travels down the arm into the hand.
Lumbar radiculopathy: Lumbar radiculopathy occurs in the lower region of the spine and is associated with sciatica pain. The lower back is the most common area affected by radiculopathy.
Thoracic radiculopathy: Thoracic radiculopathy is a pinched nerve that occurs in the upper region of the back, causing symptoms such as tingling, pain and numbness that can extend to the front of the body.
The pain caused by cervical radiculopathy can be described as burning or sharp, stemming from the neck and traveling to other parts of the body connected to the damaged nerve.
Radiculopathy occurs often with aging. As the body starts to age, the discs in the spine start to degenerate and begin to bulge. Discs in the spine also begin to dry out and stiffen. The body responds to these changes by creating bone spurs to strengthen the discs. Unfortunately, this results in the narrowing of the nerve root exit and pinches the nerve.
A careful physical exam and a review of medical history is the first step in diagnosing radiculopathy. Depending on where you have symptoms, your doctor will examine your neck, shoulders, arms, and hands.
X-rays to show the alignment of the bones along your neck and determine any narrowing or damage to the discs.
Spine MRI or Spine CT scan to identify bone spurs and bulging or herniated discs pressing on the nerve roots or spinal cord.
In some cases, the symptoms of radiculopathy get better over time and do not require treatment. If pain or other symptoms persist, your health care team will likely recommend a surgical procedure based on the symptoms and location of the affected nerve root.