Radiculopathy (nerve root disorder)
What is radiculopathy?
Commonly referred to as a pinched nerve, radiculopathy is injury or damage to nerve roots in the area where they leave the spine. This condition can affect anyone and can be the result of disc degeneration, disc herniation or other trauma.
Penn Medicine’s spine care specialists use the latest techniques to determine the cause of your back or neck pain. Our team of experts can recommend the best radiculopathy treatment options for you, including advanced procedures when needed. Our goal is to bring you long-term symptom relief so that you can live without pain.
Types of radiculopathy
The type of radiculopathy you have depends on where along your spine the nerve root is injured.
- Cervical radiculopathy: Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve in the neck is compressed or irritated at the point where it leaves the spinal cord. This can result in pain in your shoulders, muscle weakness, and numbness that travels down your arm into your hand.
- Lumbar radiculopathy: Lumbar radiculopathy occurs in the lower region of your spine and is associated with sciatica pain. The lower back is the most common area affected by radiculopathy.
- Thoracic radiculopathy: Thoracic radiculopathy is a pinched nerve that occurs in the upper region of your back, causing symptoms such as tingling, pain, and numbness that can extend to the front of your body.
What does radiculopathy feel like?
The pain caused by radiculopathy can be described as burning or sharp. It can travel to other parts of the body connected to the damaged nerve.
Radiculopathy symptoms might include:
- Tingling or numbness in the fingers or hand
- Weakness in arm, shoulder or hand
- Decreased motor skills
- Loss of sensation
- Pain associated with neck movement or straining
Changes that lead to radiculopathy
Radiculopathy occurs often with aging. As the body starts to age, the discs in the spine start to degenerate and begin to bulge. Discs in the spine also begin to dry out and stiffen. The body responds to these changes by creating bone spurs to strengthen the discs. Unfortunately, this results in the narrowing of the nerve root exit and pinches the nerve.
Common causes of radiculopathy include:
- Arthritis
- Herniated discs
- Cervical spondylosis
- Bone spurs
Evaluating for a nerve root disorder
A careful physical exam and a review of your medical history is the first step in diagnosing radiculopathy. Depending on where you have symptoms, your doctor will examine your neck, shoulders, arms, and hands for numbness or loss of feeling. Your doctor will also check your muscle reflexes, muscle strength, and your posture for signs of a curved spine. Other tests can also help with a diagnosis.
Treating radiculopathy
In some cases, the symptoms of radiculopathy get better over time and do not require treatment. Your doctor may recommend that you rest or modify your activities. Physical therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and steroid injections in the spine may also help reduce your symptoms.
If pain or other symptoms persist, your health care team may recommend a surgical procedure based on the location of the affected nerve root.