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Radiculopathy
Types of Nerve CompressionLumbar Radiculopathy is also called sciatica. It is a compression of one or more nerve roots in the lower back. Symptoms are experienced in the buttocks, legs, ankles or feet. A physical exam will help the doctor to determine which nerve root is being compressed. Each spinal level has very distinctive symptoms when that particular nerve root is compressed. This is also one of the reasons why sciatica patients might all suffer from completely different pain patterns.Cervical Radiculopathy is commonly referred to as a pinched nerve. It is compression of one of more of the delicate nerve roots in the neck. Symptoms might be experienced in the neck, face, shoulders, arms or hands. Once again, a physical exam will give some clues as to which level is affected. Thoracic Radiculopathy is a relatively uncommon form of compressed nerve in the middle back. This region is not designed to bend and flex as much as the lumbar or cervical levels. This keeps the thoracic area less likely to develop many common spinal ailments. In cases of thoracic nerve compression, the patient may experience symptoms in the arms, chest, abdomen or pelvis. Diagnosis of Nerve CompressionAccurate diagnosis can only be made using advanced imaging techniques, such as spinal MRI or CT scan. A physical exam will give the doctor preliminary information, but make sure that you receive a confirmation of the diagnosed problem prior to beginning any treatment. Remember that X-rays can not diagnosed a nerve condition or accurately image any of the soft tissue in the body.Recommendation on Spinal Nerve PainPinched nerves and sciatica can be painful and treatment resistant back pain conditions. Nerve related problems are very difficult to accurately diagnose in many cases. If you wind up with a case of unresolved back pain, the most logical reason is in the diagnosis. Sometimes nerve pain is created by a less obvious cause than might first appear.Ischemia can create apparent nerve pain, although there is no compression involved in this rarely diagnosed process. If your nerve pain does not respond well to a variety of treatment attempts, you might consider the possibility that your misdiagnosed back pain might actually be the result of regional oxygen deprivation, not structural compression...
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