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• About Your Radiculopathy Diagnosis

About Your Radiculopathy Diagnosis

Radiculopathy is not a diagnosis per se, but is actually a range of symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness that travel to various areas in the body. These symptoms are usually caused by impingement or irritation of one or more of the 31 pairs of nerve roots that branch off the spinal cord in the spinal column.

Spinal conditions associated with feelings of radiculopathy include degenerative disc disease, arthritis of the spine, bulging disc, herniated disc, spinal stenosis, foraminal stenosis, and others. In order for your doctor to reach a correct diagnosis, it’s important to be able to understand and describe the symptoms you experience. Traveling pain and other symptoms associated with an impinged or irritated nerve root can occur throughout the body and include:

• Chronic pain
• Acute pain
• Sciatica pain
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Weakness
• Loss of sensation

If you experience these radiculopathy symptoms, it’s important to consult a physician. While most neck or back pain diminishes over time, the symptoms listed above could indicate a more serious problem. In order to know for sure, your doctor will perform a thorough investigation of your condition, using the following tools to reach a diagnosis:

• Conversation – questions about location, duration, and severity of pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness
• Physical exam – tests for range of motion and muscle strength
• Neurological exam – reflex response testing to determine level of sensory or motor function
• X-ray – routine imaging to determine cause and severity of the condition
• Additional imaging – MRI, CT scan, myelography, bone scan, or discogram, any of which may be used to pinpoint exact location of an impinged or irritated nerve root

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If your radiculopathy diagnosis indicates surgery is necessary to remove pressure from spinal nerve tissue, contact Laser Spine Institute (LSI) to learn about an alternative to traditional spine surgery. LSI’s minimally invasive, outpatient procedures can help you rediscover a life without pain. When you contact us, we’ll be happy to provide you with a free MRI or CT scan review.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.