Chiropractor Resources, Chiropractic Techniques, Chiropractic Advice

The Ultimate Chiropractic Resources

  • Symptoms
  • Treatment
    • Chiropractic
    • Medicine
    • General Massage
    • Acupuncture
    • Pregnancy Massage
    • Aroma Therapy
    • Reflexology Massage
    • Medical Massage
  • Techniques
    • General Techniques
  • Resources
    • Directory
    • General Information
    • Latest News
      • Levoscoliosis and Structural Scoliosis
      • Paresthesia Definition
      • Thecal Sac Impingement
      • Disc Desiccation
      • Listhesis Treatment
      • Autoimmune Inflammatory Vasculitis
      • Anterior Cord Syndrome
      • Antalgic Gait
      • Lumbosacral Spondylosis
      • Myelomalacia
      • Radiculopathy vs. Radiculitis
      • How You Can Treat Tension Myositis Syndrome
      • Things You Need to Know About Ligamentum Flavum Hypertrophy
      • Skelaxin
      • Can Constipation Cause Back Pain?
      • All About the Symptoms of Hydromyelia
      • Military Neck
      • Pelvic Obliquity
      • Pelvic Obliquity Symptoms
      • Physiatrist
      • Chiropractic Hip Adjustment
      • Things You Should Do to Treat Cervical Lordosis
      • About Brittle Bone Disorder
      • What to Expect in Couples Massage
      • Anterolisthesis, Retrolisthesis, and Chiropractic Care
      • Straight Spine
      • Medication: Requip
      • Things You Should Do to Treat Lumbar Lordosis
      • Straight Back Syndrome
  • For Chiropractors
    • Massage Training
    • For Massage Therapists
You are here: Home / Symptoms / Radiculopathy

Radiculopathy

January 24, 2015 By eChiropractor (Guest)

Radiculopathy pain can be treated in a variety of ways.

What is Radiculopathy?

When a nerve does not work correctly, it is a neuropathy.  If one or more nerves are affected by certain conditions, it is called radiculopathy.  The symptoms of this include numbness, lack of muscle control, weakness, or pain.  Sometimes these symptoms radiate to other parts of the body.  For example, lumbar pain in the lower back or sciatica (lumbar radiculopathy) may lead to symptoms in the foot.  A neck impingement (pinched nerve in the neck), or cervical radiculopathy, can manifest as forearm weakness or pain.  Other types of this disorder (and some related conditions) are, for example, thoracic radiculopathy, cauda equine syndrome, piriformis syndrome, Lyme disease, paraplegia, and quadriplegia.    In the case of cervical radiculopathy, the people most likely to be affected are women, between the ages of 45 and 64.1

Radiculopathy vs. Myelopathy

Myelopathy refers to spinal cord pathology.  If it is inflammatory, the term for that is myelitis.2 Radiculopathy Radiculopathy can be caused by an irritated or pinched nerve, perhaps damaged by disease or affected by low blood flow.  Myelopathy occurs when the pinched nerve is located in the spinal cord.  It is different from the other condition in that myelopathy “affects the entire spinal cord”, whereas radiculopathy “is pressure on the spinal nerve roots at certain points”.  Myelopathy can be caused by narrowing of the spinal canal (spinal stenosis), arthritis, and bone spurs.  Symptoms of myelopathy can be similar to radiculopathy:  weakness, pain, numbness, or loss of coordination.3

Treatments Options for Radicular Pain

Instead of masking the problems with pain medication or starting with surgery, it would help if the underlying cause of the radiculopathy could be resolved.  Conservative approaches include chiropractic care.  In fact, “spinal manipulation has been found to be effective for the treatment of acute lumbar radiculopathy”.  Patients can also receive instruction in exercises that will help to stabilize the condition and prevent further injury.  Later, strengthening exercises may be prescribed.  If the situation is too severe, some patients will be referred for surgery.4  Chiropractors can find the underlying cause of the radicular pain, such as whiplash, scar tissue, diabetes, or herniated disc.  Herniated disc symptoms may be indicative of radiculopathy; in fact “herniated disc with nerve compression (is)…the most common cause of radiculopathy”.  Chiropractors have tools that range beyond manipulative therapy.  Other treatment options are cervical traction, exercises, education about ergonomics, soft-tissue treatment, and physiotherapy.5

References:

1,4 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiculopathy

2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myelopathy

3 http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/health/services/spine/getting-treatment/conditions-treatments/radiculopathy-myelopathy/about.cfm

5 http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/Radiculopathy.shtml

 

Learn more abour cervical radiculopathy.

Email, RSS Follow

Sign Up For Our Treatment Newsletter

Get the latest information on causes and treatments for common (and uncommon) conditions and disorders.

Find This Useful? Check Out These Related Posts:

Cervical Radiculopathy Causes and Treatment Options Post-PartumPost-Partum Back Pain Myelopathy Football Injuries and Chiropractic Adjustments
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
find a chiropractor in your area
search our listings
Keywords
Zip Code
glossary

RSS From The Journal of Chiropractic Medicine

  • Accuracy of Motion Palpation Flexion-Extension Test in Identifying the Seventh Cervical Spinal Process
  • Editorial Board
  • Dietary Fiber Intake and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Umbrella Review of Meta-analyses
  • Exercise Therapy for a Patient With Parkinson Disease and Back Pain: A Case Report
  • Masthead
  • Table of contents

Featured Video

Recent Posts

  • Chiropractic for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

    Chiropractic for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

    April 18, 2018
  • Paresthesia Definition

    Paresthesia Definition

    April 16, 2018
  • Disc Desiccation (Desiccation of Lumbar Disc)

    Disc Desiccation (Desiccation of Lumbar Disc)

    April 12, 2018
  • Myelomalacia: Softening of the Spinal Cord

    Myelomalacia: Softening of the Spinal Cord

    April 9, 2018
  • Thecal Sac Impingement and Effacement

    Thecal Sac Impingement and Effacement

    April 5, 2018

copyright © 2018 echiropractor.org

About Privacy Policy Terms of Use Site Map Contact Us

Ease your pain

Sign up to have the latest pain alleviating treatments and techniques sent right to your inbox!  

x