| By :
James S Pendergraft
Radiculopathy refers to any problems or diseases which are caused by the spinal nerve roots and the nerves of the spinal cord. A person experiences pain in the spinal cord which later shifts to the exterior parts of the spine in this phenomenon. Causes of Radiculopathy There are many causes of radiculopathy. The main cause is the compressing of nerves or irritation caused in the area. This compression can be mechanical in nature and caused by the disk herniation on the nerves. This is also caused by the thickening of ligaments around the nerves of the spinal cord. Another phenomenon, which causes the mechanical compressing of the nerves, is a tumor or an infection. In either of these cases, the space available to the spinal cord is reduced which causes extreme pain in the nerves. Another cause is scoliosis, which causes the nerves to be compressed by making an abnormal curve of the spine. Another cause of radiculopathy is diabetes, which leads to decreased blood flow in the body and especially in the spinal cord. Any accidents and inflammation can cause trauma and irritating effects directly to the nerves. Symptoms of Radiculopathy The symptoms, which are associated with radiculopathy, depend on the type of nerve that is affected by compression. The nerves, which exit from the neck, are in control of all the muscles in the neck and the arms. These nerves cause sensations in these areas. The nerves in the middle region of the spinal cord control the muscles in the chest and abdomen. The last part of the spine at the bottom end gives sensations to the buttocks and legs. When any part of the spine nerves are affected, the corresponding areas experience feelings of numbness as well as tingling pains in the arms and legs. There are patients who also have neck and back pains. In case of lumbar radiculopathy, the patients experience pains to extreme levels and this phenomenon is known as sciatica. Thoracic radiculopathy is known to cause pain in the middle back region and the chest. In some cases, the patient experiences extreme pain, even when touched lightly in the affected areas. In some cases, the nerves can be completely damaged. Treatment for Radiculopathy There are many treatments for radiculopathy symptoms and many have felt relieved by these treatments. These are basically anti-inflammatory medications given to the patient along with physical therapy. These are therapies which prevent the patient from any activities which can cause harm and strain to the neck and the back. Most of the time, the patient will respond well to these treatments. Alternatively, there are epidural steroid injections, and as a last resort, the patients of radiculopathy will be treated with surgery. The main aim of surgery is to remove the compression present to the nerves which cause this problem.
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