Causes, symptoms and treatment of radiculopathy

Radiculopathy is a syndrome arising from compression of spinal nerve root to exit the spine. He may include pain, impaired movement in the extremities and absence of skin sensitivity.

The Term "radiculopathy" and "radiculitis" are often used as synonyms. These diagnoses according to the international classification of diseases (ICD 10) have the same code – M54.1.

radiculopathy amid hernia

Causes

The Most common cause of this disease is a herniated disc. The intervertebral disc is the cartilage that is between the vertebrae. It performs a cushioning function. Within its connective tissue sheath is a jelly-like substance. In an unusually strong or frequent repetitive loads on the spine, such as lifting weights, occupation of different sports, this jelly can break outside of the disc and pinch nearby nerve.

In Addition to the disc herniation causes compression of the nerve may be vertebrae osteophytes, i.e. bone outgrowths formed in the intervertebral space for not entirely clear reasons. The nerve can also be squeezed in fractures of the vertebrae. Such fractures can spontaneously occur in osteoporosis.

Its mechanism of nerve damage in the cases listed above is compression-ischemic neuropathy. This means that the compression (compression) of the nerve trunk leads to ischemic changes in him, i.e. To hypoxia due to circulatory disorders. All other manifestations (pain, dysfunction) are the result of compression-ischemic damage.

Radiculopathy often occurs. According to American studies, from 3 to 5% of the US population suffer lumbosacral radiculopathy. Somewhat less frequently affected the cervical spine. Thoracic disc herniation is rare formed due to the stabilizing effect of a costal skeleton of the thorax.

If the treatment of compressive radiculopathy not start in a timely manner, the disease becomes chronic. In the future there is a high probability of disability.

Symptoms

The Main symptom of compression of nerves in lumbosacral spine is pain. The pain can spread to buttocks and lower legs. Pain may increase when walking, coughing, localized on the right, left or both sides of the spine. Also sometimes may cause feelings of numbness and weakness in the legs.

The Symptoms of root compression in the cervical spine is neck pain and arm and weakness in movements of the upper limb and numbness in the fingers.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of this disease consists of several stages. First, the doctor examines the patient's complaints:

  • clarifies the main complaint (pain, weakness, numbness);
  • assesses the location of pain (the point of disease, situated to the right, to the left of the vertebral column);
  • asks about the circumstances under which appeared the pain, and attempted treatment;
  • discovers the occupation of the patient and the peculiarities of lifestyle, as this may be key in the emergence of complaints.

The Next stage in the process of diagnosis is an objective study. The doctor examines the patient by studying the symptoms of asymmetric muscle tension on the right or on the left, then performs a neurological examination. With the help of feeling finds the point of maximum pain: right, left, both sides. Using neurological hammer tests the reflexes and the sensitivity of the skin of the extremities.