Nerve Root

A nerve root is the initial segment of a nerve as it branches off from the central nervous system. The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord and is the part of the nervous system responsible for integrating information and coordinating activity in all parts of the body.

Types of Nerve Roots

There are two types of nerve roots:

• Cranial – the initial segment of one of 12 pairs of roots that branch off the central nervous system from the brain stem or the uppermost levels of the spinal cord.
• Spinal – the initial segment of one of 31 pairs of nerves branching off the central nervous system from the spinal cord. Each nerve root consists of the combination of a sensory and motor root.

Nerve Roots and Spine Conditions

If you are suffering pain, weakness, tingling, numbness, and other symptoms related to a degenerative spine condition such as bone spurs, a bulging or herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or others, it's possible these symptoms are being caused by the compression of a spinal nerve root. These spine conditions are asymptomatic by themselves; it's when they result in the "pinching" of a nearby nerve, root, or even the spinal cord itself that symptoms arise.

Treating a Pinched Nerve Root

If your doctor has diagnosed neural compression in a spinal nerve root as the cause of your pain, your first course of action will likely be a treatment program consisting of any of a variety of conservative, nonsurgical treatments. These can include pain medication, hold/cold therapy, physical therapy, and others. However, if you've failed to find adequate relief after weeks or months of conservative treatment, contact Laser Spine Institute today. We perform a variety of safe, effective endoscopic procedures to decompress pinched nerve roots that can help you find relief from back and neck pain.