Radicular pain syndrome – causes, symptoms, treatment

Radicular syndrome develops when the diseases of the spine and spasmodic contraction of the muscles. Pathology occurs when pinching the nerve fibres between the vertebral bodies or in the thickness of muscle tissue.

The language of medicine radicular syndrome is called radiculopathy. For the diagnosis of the disease is used not only by neurological examination but also instrumental methods – magnetic resonance and computed tomography.

Correct the cause of the disease without surgical intervention is difficult, but medication helps to increase the intervals between relapses of the disease.

radicular syndrome

There are several varieties of pathology: compression-radicular and radicular and vascular syndromes. These forms of the disease describe the features of pathological changes.

In inflammatory changes of the nerve fibers there is increased impulses not only in the field of infringement of spinal roots, but in additional areas that are innervated by segmental data fiber.

Why does pinching the nerve fibers

Radicular impairment develops for the following reasons:

  • spinal cord compression by tumor or inflammatory infiltrates;
  • disc herniation
  • degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine;
  • vertebral instability;
  • spasmodic muscular contraction.

Symptoms pathology

The symptoms of the infringement of nerve fibers:

  1. pain along the spine;
  2. change the internal organs;
  3. pain in the cardiac region;
  4. malfunctioning of the intestine;
  5. the change of the cerebral blood supply.

Obviously, radicular compression syndrome is accompanied by numerous changes in many organs and tissues. Depending on the localization of nerve compression observed violation of the innervation of the internal organs.

The Clinical symptoms of the disease depend on the cause of the disease:

  • spondylarthrosis;
  • spondylolisthesis
  • tumor
  • the offset vertebra;
  • infection of the spine.

To have any infringement of a nerve, it takes a long lesion of the vertebrae. Over time in degenerative diseases decreases the distance between adjacent vertebrae. Through the vertebral foramen the spinal nerves emerge, which are infringed in the spinal segment. Pathology can be damaged nerve ganglia or the spinal roots.

In Order to diagnose a radiculopathy, it is necessary to use x-rays of the spinal column in a straight or lateral projections. The most sensitive and informative method for diagnostics of a pathology is considered to be magnetic resonance imaging.

Manifestations in lesions of the spine

At different stages of the disease the symptoms of radiculopathy are manifested slightly differently:

  1. a Pathological process in the cervical spine leads to pain in the neck, chest, upper limbs and back.
  2. With lumbar radiculitis pain localized in the lumbar region and lower extremities. When moving or lifting the pain worse.
  3. Sacral-lumbar hernia may be accompanied by severe pain in the lumbar spine. Medical language it is called lumbago (or backache).
  4. With hypertonicity of skeletal muscle is formed by a pronounced pain syndrome, which eliminates the intake of muscle relaxants.

When all kinds of compression-radicular syndrome is a breach of the tactile and temperature sensitivity. To treat these changes with the help of funds to improve the circulation in the soft tissues of the vertebral column.

Another symptom of the pathology of the spine is impaired mobility of the lower limbs. On the background of impaired innervation of the muscle fiber "dry out" and atrophy. Over time they become weak and can no longer fully functional.

Radicular cardiovascular syndrome

Radicular cardiovascular syndrome is manifested by pain and impaired blood circulation in the area of the strangulated nerve roots. With the defeat of the spinal nerve at the level of L5-S1 observed pain in the lumbar spine.

On the background pathology when walking, a person feels pain in the upper-outer quadrant of iliac region. For pathology-specific localization of pain in the 2-4 fingers.

Neuroscientists such changes are called lumbalgia. For pathology characterized by local pain in the lumbar region that is transferred to the gluteal region, perineum and lower limbs.

Symptoms of lumbalgii are formed depending on the peculiarities of nerve damage. With the defeat of the sensitive fibres of the patient there is a loss of pain, thermal and tactile sensitivity.

failure of the motor fibers is accompanied by dorsalgia with lesions of the musculoskeletalapparatus. Against this background, the observed limit of mobility in the joints, stretching of the muscular-ligamentous structures, as well as psychogenic disorders.

The Radiating pain radiculopathy can mimic renal colic. The difference between these pathological conditions is that pain with radicular syndrome continues for a long time. In renal colic the pain occur only during the passage of stones in the ureter and pyelocaliceal system.

Massage and gymnastics in diseases of the vertebral column

Massage and therapeutic exercises for the infringement of the nerve root helps to normalize local circulation and to relax skeletal muscles, which may be in a state of hypertonicity. Massage treatments help to relax muscle fibers and reduce the pinching the nerve fiber.

Exercises help to normalize the condition of the skeletal muscles and increase the mobility of the articular apparatus.

Medication

Treatment of radicular syndrome involves the following procedures:

  • bed rest
  • anaesthetic;
  • use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
  • lubrication areas injuries irritating ointments (capsicum plaster, kapsikam, finalgon);
  • muscle relaxant – sirdalud, mydocalm, pentoxifylline;
  • epidural blockade with the use of anesthetics and analgesics;
  • oral vitamins of group B.

Radicular impairment accompanied by severe pain, so to cure it at home are impossible. Even qualified medical treatment takes a long time to normalize the blood supply and nerve impulses.

If an abnormal condition occurs on the background of diseases of the spine, should be treated throughout life. Regularity and consistency help to prevent the recurrence of the disease.