Radiculopathy can be diagnosed based on symptoms and imaging tests like a CT scan.
The treatment may involve medications,physical therapy, and spinal surgery.
What Causes Radiculopathy?
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The compression alters the transmission of nerve signals, causing pain, weakness, and abnormal sensations.
In between is thethoracic spineof the upper and middle back.
Can Radiculopathy Be Treated?
Typically, radiculopathy is treated with conservative therapies such as over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers and rest.
It is only when these options fail that more aggressive treatments are considered.
Severe cases may require a short course of a prescription corticosteroid (steroid) drug like prednisone.
The choice of procedure will largely depend on the key in and location of the spinal nerve root compression.
Examples include:
Summary
Radiculopathy is a pinched spinal root nerve.
Symptoms include pain, weakness, and abnormal sensations like burning or numbness.
The location of the symptoms can vary based on which part of the spine is affected.
A herniated disc, osteoarthritis, and bone spurs are just a few of the possible causes of radiculopathy.
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.Cervical radiculopathy.
Cervical Radiculopathy: Surgical Treatment Options.
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Canale, S., Beaty, J. Cervical Disc Disease.
Canale and Beaty: Campbell’s Operative Orthopaedics.