Radiculopathy Specialist

What is radiculopathy?

Radiculopathy is a condition in which one of your spinal nerve roots is trapped, compressed, or pinched. There are several different areas where radiculopathy can occur, including: 

Cervical spine

The cervical spine encompasses the vertebrae in your neck. A pinched nerve in this area is called cervical radiculopathy. 

Thoracic spine

The thoracic spine includes your upper back area. Thoracic radiculopathy is far less common than cervical or lumbar radiculopathy. 

Lumbar spine

The lumbar spine, which covers your lower back area, is the most common site of radiculopathy. Lumbar radiculopathy is commonly called sciatica. 

Although nerve compression can occur in other parts of the body, for example, with carpal tunnel syndrome, it’s only called radiculopathy if it occurs in your spine.

What are the symptoms of radiculopathy?

Radiculopathy can cause nerve root inflammation, which can trigger issues such as: 

• Pain, which may shoot down your arm or leg
• Tingling in your extremities
• Numbness in the affected or nearby area
• Impaired reflexes in an arm or leg
• Weakness in an arm or leg

Some people experience more intense radiculopathy symptoms when moving, but it can also worsen when you’re sleeping. 

What causes radiculopathy?

Radiculopathy occurs with extra pressure on a spinal nerve root. Many different conditions and problems can cause pressure in and around your spine; some common examples include:

• Disc herniation
• Arthritis
• Bone spurs
• Spinal stenosis
• Foraminal stenosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Spinal ligament thickening

In rare cases, spinal tumors and infections can also lead to radiculopathy. 

How is radiculopathy treated?

Effective radiculopathy treatment requires fully addressing the underlying issue. Most people with radiculopathy and its underlying conditions initially try physical therapy and lifestyle changes along with short-term pain relief medication. 

If pain persists, the Total Spine Institute team may recommend ultrasound-guided steroid and anesthetic injections for several months of pain relief. Or, for some causes of radiculopathy, minimally invasive surgery or robotic-assisted surgery may be the best way to address your condition and provide lasting symptom relief. 

Total Spine Institute uses the latest cutting-edge advances in spine surgery, including the Coflex® Interlaminar Stabilization® device, the Vertiflex™ Procedure Superion™ Indirect Decompression System, and the latest artificial spinal discs, to effectively resolve the root cause of radiculopathy permanently. 

For quick help with a painful pinched nerve, call Total Spine Institute or click on the provided online booking tool now.