Your spinal cord runs down your spinal canal, protected by your vertebrae. The nerves of the spinal cord branch off and run between the vertebrae to other parts of your body. The area where the nerve splits is called the nerve root; when it’s pinched or damaged, radiculopathy results.

There are three main types of radiculopathy: cervical, lumbar, and thoracic.

Cervical radiculopathy:  A pinched root nerve in your neck results in cervical radiculopathy, which usually causes pain and numbness in your arms and hands.

Thoracic radiculopathy: Thoracic radiculopathy occurs in your upper back and is the rarest form of radiculopathy. It causes pain and numbness that wraps around your body.

Lumbar radiculopathy:  Also known as sciatica, lumbar radiculopathy occurs in your lower back and causes pain that extends down your leg.

What causes radiculopathy?

When the tissues surrounding your vertebrae, or the vertebrae themselves, change in size or shape, they can press on any nearby nerve roots. There are several possible causes.

Herniated or bulging discs: When the pads of tissue between your vertebrae, called discs, bulge, become herniated, or slip out of place, they can press on nerve roots and cause radiculopathy. Both cervical and lumbar radiculopathy can result from damaged discs.

Bone spurs:  Areas of extra bone growth, called bone spurs, on your spine, can cause radiculopathy. Trauma and degenerative conditions like arthritis can cause bone spurs.

Spinal stenosis and foraminal stenosis:  When your spinal canal narrows, you have spinal stenosis. When the small openings that nerve roots travel through — called foramina — narrow, you have foraminal stenosis. Both of these conditions can cause radiculopathy.

What treatments are available for radiculopathy?

Dr. Reilly tailors your treatment to your individual condition. Each case of radiculopathy is unique, and each patient has an individual set of life circumstances. Some common elements of radiculopathy treatment include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Prescription medications
• Physical therapy
• Steroid injections

• Surgical interventions

If you have questions regarding a particular treatment approach or about radiculopathy in general, call or book an appointment online with Dr. Reilly