Cervical Radiculopathy: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
Cervical radiculopathy is nerve function damage or disturbance caused by the compression of one or more of the nerve roots close to the cervical vertebrae. Such cervical area nerve root damage can lead to pain, altered reflexes, an achy, shock-like or burning feeling, or loss of sensation in the pathways of the nerves that run along the arm and into the hand and other neurological deficits, according to the location of the damaged nerve roots.
Cervical Radiculopathy Causes
Cervical radiculopathy can be caused by the material from ruptured discs, arthritis, bone spurs, tumors, infections, degenerative changes in bones and other illnesses and injuries putting pressure on the body’s nerve roots. The chemical processes that are related to inflammation may also play a role. Trauma is the most common cause of cervical radiculopathy in young people. In middle-aged and older people, it tends to be caused by normal degenerative changes that take place in the discs and cause them to put pressure on nerve roots. In both cases the damaged discs and the pressure they apply to people’s nerve roots creates compression the results in inflammation and pain that’s very severe.
Cervical Radiculopathy Symptoms
There are several symptom that doctors use to recognize which patients are suffering with cervical radiculopathy. One of them is if they have pain that radiates throughout the arm, neck, chest, shoulders and upper back. People with radiculopathy often experience muscle weakness, as well as tingling and numbness in the fingers and hands. Some other common symptoms of cervical radiculopathy include a loss of normal coordination that can be present in the hands.
Treating Cervical Radiculopathy
Some of the most common treatments for cervical radiculopathy include:
- Ibuprofen, Naproxen And Other Non-Steroidal Pain Medications
- Oral Or Injected Corticosteroids And Other Powerful Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
- Physical Therapy Including Gentle Cervical Traction, Mobilization And Exercise
- Surgery To Relieve The Pressure
