Radiculopathy

Radiculopathy
Classification and external resources
ICD-10	G54, M54.1
ICD-9	723.4, 724.4, 729.2
DiseasesDB	29522
MeSH	D011843

Radiculopathy is not a specific condition, but rather a description of a problem in which one or more nerves are affected and do not work properly (a neuropathy). The emphasis is on the nerve root (Radix = "root"). This can result in pain (radicular pain), weakness, numbness, or difficulty controlling specific muscles.

In a radiculopathy, the problem is at or near the root of the nerve, along the spine. However, the pain or other symptoms may manifest in an extremity through a process called referred pain. For example, a nerve root impingement in the neck can produce pain and weakness in the forearm. Likewise, an impingement in the lower back or lumbar-sacral spine can be manifested with symptoms in the foot. Polyradiculopathy refers to the condition where more than one spinal nerve root is affected.

Contents 1 Causes 2 Types 3 Treatment 4 See also 5 External links 6 References

Causes

The nerve(s) may be inflamed, pinched (compressed), or working ineffectively due to a lack of blood flow. The nerve could be affected by a progressive disease that is destroying it in part or in whole. The "straight leg raise test" can help to diagnose a lumbar or sacral nerve root radiculopathy.

Types

Forms of radiculopathy and related conditions:

• Lumbar radiculopathy
• Cervical radiculopathy: Radiculopathy in the cervical spine
• Cauda equina syndrome
• Paraplegia
• Sciatica
• Quadriplegia
• Piriformis syndrome
• Lyme Disease

Treatment

Ideally, effective treatment aims to resolve the underlying cause and restores the nerve root to normal function. Common mainstream treatment approaches include physical therapy, medication, and relaxation. A comprehensive systematic review found moderate quality evidence that spinal manipulation is effective for the treatment of acute lumbar radiculopathy.^[1] Only low level evidence was found to support spinal manipulation for the treatment of chronic lumbar and cervical spine-related radiculopathies, and no evidence was found to exist for treatment of thoracic radiculopathy.

See also

• Peripheral neuropathy

External links

• MeSH Radiculopathy
• Symptoms
• More on Radiculopathy
• Youtube video: Spine & Nerve Health with Dr. Aaron Filler (comparing Sciatica and Piriformis Syndrome)

References

Dorsopathies / spinal disease (M40–M54, 720–724, 737) Deforming dorsopathies Spinal curvature Kyphosis · Lordosis · Scoliosis Other Scheuermann's disease · Torticollis Spondylopathy inflammatory: Spondylitis (Ankylosing spondylitis) · Sacroiliitis · Discitis · Spondylodiscitis · Pott disease noninflammatory: Spondylosis · Spondylolysis · Spondylolisthesis  · Spinal stenosis Back pain Neck pain · Upper back pain · Low back pain (Coccydynia, Sciatica) Radiculopathy Intervertebral disc disorder Schmorl's nodes · Degenerative disc disease · Spinal disc herniation M: JNT anat(h/c, u, t, l)/phys noco(arth/defr/back/soft)/cong, sysi/epon, injr proc, drug(M01C, M4)

Nervous system pathology, PNS, somatic (G50–G64, 350–357)   Nerve, nerve root, plexus Cranial nerve disease V (Trigeminal neuralgia, Anesthesia dolorosa) · VII (Facial nerve paralysis, Bell's palsy, Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome, Parry–Romberg syndrome, Central seven) · XI (Accessory nerve disorder) Radiculopathy, plexopathy brachial plexus (Brachial plexus lesion, Thoracic outlet syndrome) · Phantom limb Mono- neuropathy Upper limb median nerve (Carpal tunnel syndrome, Ape hand deformity) ulnar nerve (Ulnar nerve entrapment, Froment's sign, Guyon's canal syndrome, Ulnar claw) radial nerve (Radial neuropathy, Wrist drop, Cheiralgia paresthetica) long thoracic nerve (Winged scapula) Lower limb lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh (Meralgia paraesthetica) tibial nerve (Tarsal tunnel syndrome) plantar nerve (Morton's neuroma) superior gluteal nerve (Trendelenburg's sign) sciatic nerve (Piriformis syndrome) General Causalgia · Mononeuritis multiplex · Neuropathy (Neuralgia/Neuritis) · Nerve compression syndrome   Polyneuropathies/Polyradiculoneuropathy HMSN Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease · Dejerine–Sottas disease · Refsum's disease · Hereditary spastic paraplegia Autoimmune/demyelinating Guillain–Barré syndrome · Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy Other Alcoholic polyneuropathy M: PNS anat(h/r/t/c/b/l/s/a)/phys(r)/devp/prot/nttr/nttm/ntrp noco/auto/cong/tumr, sysi/epon, injr proc, drug(N1B)