Radiculopathy Definition

While you may not be entirely familiar with the word radiculopathy, nor its definition, it is something that millions of people worldwide struggle with every day. Radiculopathy is the blanket word used to describe all of the symptoms of nerve compression, such as back or neck pain, muscle weakness, numbness or tingling in the extremities, pain that radiates along a nerve and diminished reflexes. These symptoms can originate at any level of the spine, but are most commonly exhibited in the lumbar (low back) and cervical (neck) segments because of their weight burden and flexibility.

Causes of Radiculopathy

Radiculopathy frequently accompanies the regular aging process as the spinal anatomy begins to degenerate, although it can also present as a result of injury or disease. Some common causes of radiculopathy include:

• Degenerative disc disease – the most common source of radiculopathy, the deterioration of intervertebral discs often leads to nerve compression when the disc or disc material extrude into the spinal column.
• Osteoarthritis – arthritis of the vertebral facet joints can stiffen the spine and have painful repercussions.
• Bone spurs – also known as osteophytes, these bone growths can irritate nerves, muscles and other tissue.
• Injury – injury can lead to swelling and muscle inflammation, often also causing nerve compression.
• Obesity – excess body fat increases stress placed on the spine and can lead to nerve compression.
• Other – disease and infection can also lead to radiculopathy.

Treatment Options

The good news is that most radiculopathy can be treated with anti-inflammatory medication, heat therapy, exercise and other conservative pain management techniques. However, should your pain persist, contact Laser Spine Institute to learn about our minimally invasive, outpatient procedures as an alternative to traditional open spine surgery. For more information on radiculopathy, its definition, and your treatment options call today. We are also happy to offer a completely free review of your MRI or CT scan to help determine whether an endoscopic procedure might be right for you.