Radiculopathy is most often referred to as a pinched nerve, which may occur in the neck or back and result in significant levels of pain. It can result from an injury or trauma and can happen as a natural result of aging.

What is radiculopathy?

There are three types of radiculopathy: cervical (in the neck), thoracic (in the mid-back), and lumbar (in the lower back). You may have also heard of sciatica, which is a form of radiculopathy in which the sciatic nerve (the nerve from the glute region that spreads down the legs) is pinched or damaged.

What causes radiculopathy?

Radiculopathy is often associated with aging because as you age, your spinal discs degenerate and may bulge. As the spinal discs dry out and stiffen, the body responds by generating bone spurs in an attempt to strengthen the spine and provide support. Unfortunately, this often causes the nerve exit areas to narrow, resulting in pinched nerves or radiculopathy.

Other causes of radiculopathy include:

• Arthritis
• Spondylosis
• Herniated discs

Symptoms of Radiculopathy

Pain is the primary and most reported symptom of radiculopathy. Since radiculopathy directly impacts the spinal nerves, pain can radiate to other parts of the back or neck. For instance, cervical (neck) radiculopathy may radiate pain to the upper or mid-back. Lumbar (lower back) radiculopathy may radiate pain down one or both legs.

Additional symptoms of radiculopathy include:

• Loss of sensation
• Decreased motor skills (due to damaged or pinched nerves)
• Numbness, tingling or weakness in the extremities (like the arms, hands, legs, or feet)

How is radiculopathy treated?

Radiculopathy often responds well using minimally invasive treatments such as physical therapy to strengthen the neck and back muscles to better support the spine, weight loss if the patient is overweight or obese, and steroid injections to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

At Midsouth Spine & Pain Associates (MSSP), we diagnose radiculopathy by conducting a thorough physical examination and may collect information from various types of imaging such as a CT scan or MRI and x-rays. Most patients with radiculopathy experience a significant reduction in pain and regain mobility by receiving steroid injections, which can be administered to the neck or anywhere throughout the spine. Steroid injections contain a corticosteroid, which reduces inflammation, and/or an anesthetic to immediately numb the targeted area. Results may be immediate or may take a few weeks for the injection to take full effect.

Pain relief from a steroid injection may last as long as a few weeks to several months or longer and results may vary from patient to patient. For long-term pain relief, MSSP, our pain management doctors in Corinth, also offers other minimally invasive treatments to help provide longer lasting pain relief. Additionally, all treatments that MSSP offers are done in-office on an outpatient basis, meaning no overnight stays or long recoveries afterward.

Treating Radiculopathy in Southwest Tennessee and North Mississippi, including Tupelo, MS and Jackson, TN

If you experience symptoms of radiculopathy or think that you may have this condition, pain relief is within reach. Schedule a consultation with MSSP today to determine the cause of your pain and begin living your life without pain. To learn more or schedule a consultation, please call (662) 284-8565.