Radiculopathy Treatment | Charleston SC

RADICULOPATHY TREATMENT & RELIEF

Radiculopathy comes from having a compressed nerve in your spine that causes pain, tingling, weakness, and numbness along the nerve path. Radiculopathy can happen in any area of your spine, but it’s mostly seen in the neck (cervical radiculopathy) and the lower back (lumbar radiculopathy). It’s not typically found in the middle part of the spine (thoracic radiculopathy).

Before we go over Radiculopathy Treatment, let’s review some facts you should know about Radiculopathy:

  • Radiculopathy comes from irritation or compression of a nerve exiting the spinal column.
  • Radiculopathy symptoms can include tingling, weakness of your arms or legs, numbness, and pain.
  • With proper Radiculopathy Treatment, the symptoms can be cleared anywhere between 6 weeks to 3 months time.
  • The best Radiculopathy Treatment is a conservative treatment that includes physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, or medication.

RAICULOPATHY RISKS & CAUSES

Any activity that places excessive weight or a constant load of pressure on your spine puts you at risk of developing radiculopathy. People who are involved in heavy labor or who partake in contact sports are usually more prone to developing radiculopathy than those who live a more relaxed lifestyle. Radiculopathy can be caused by a:

  • Tumor (it reduces the amount of space in your spinal canal)
  • Infection (it reduces the amount of space in your spinal canal)
  • Scoliosis (because of the abnormal curve of your spine, it causes compression)
  • Diabetes (due to the abnormal blood flow to your spinal nerves)
  • Inflammation from trauma (because of the direct irritation it places on the nerves)
  • Mechanical compression of the nerve by a bone spur (osteophytes) that stems from osteoarthritis, a disc herniation, or from your ligaments becoming thick.

TREATMENT FOR RADICULOPATHY

Luckily, the symptoms of radiculopathy can be relieved through conservative treatment. This includes:

  • Anti-inflammatory medication
  • Physical Therapy
  • Chiropractic treatment
  • Avoiding any activity that can strain your back or neck.

Symptoms will begin to be relieved from 6 weeks to 3 months. If your condition doesn’t improve with these treatments, you may want to have an epidural steroid injection. Combined with the help of an x-ray, your doctor will inject steroid medication in between the bones of your spine that are adjacent to the involved nerve(s). This will rapidly reduce any inflammation and/or irritation of the nerve which will reduce your radiculopathy symptoms.

If you live in Charleston, SC, and are experiencing back pain or discomfort, you may be suffering from radiculopathy and should make an appointment for a consultation so we can discuss Radiculopathy Treatment.

WE CAN GET YOU BACK TO YOUR BEST SELF

Non-Surgical Spine Center is home to the foremost leading back pain specialists in the Charleston, South Carolina area. Dr. Robert Alexander combines a variety of treatment techniques to help you maintain a healthy spine. When you come to the Non-Surgical Spine Center, we initially perform a thorough evaluation for each injury and condition you are struggling with to make sure we understand the cause of your pain and how it is impacting your lifestyle.

WORKING WITH INSURANCE

Non-Surgical Spine Center works with many local insurance companies. We will be happy to call your insurance company to verify your insurance benefits prior to your initial treatment. Please call our office for more information!