Cervical radiculopathy causes individuals to be afflicted with pain in the arm that is consistent the the sensory distribution of the nerve root being pinched. Typically it's from a cervical disk herniation, which in layperson terms is a "slipped disc". The pain may radiate all the way into the hands and fingers or may simply irritate the shoulders and arms. Usually this pain is burning in nature.
What are the available therapeutic options? Here are 10, starting with the most aggressive.
1) Surgical intervention. Neck herniated disk surgery for radiculopathy is indicated when a person is experiencing motor weakness. It is not really known whether or not watching motor weakness for three to six months and then operating if the weakness will improve even after a satisfactory decompression. If a person has nonoperative treatment for over six weeks that doesn't work and is still miserable, then surgery may help as a quality of life decision.
2) Interventional pain management. Usually if left alone, a cervical herniation will desintegrate at the region of nerve root compression. An epidural steroid injection can help the patient avoid surgery. It can cover the root in a soothing anti-inflammation medication and decrease pain, thereby making for a better existence while hopefully the disk piece desintegrates and the pain from compression disappears.
3) Physical Therapy. PT and Rehab may help considerably in radiculopathy patients. The person might necessitate an epidural injection prior to PT and maybe some pain medication, but PT often improves range of motion and reduce pain.
4) Spinal Decompression Therapy. This is a nonsurgical treatment involving intermittent traction. The treatment has worked well for the low back but also for treating neck radiculopathy. Typicall treatment goes on for 20 sessions.
5) Chiropractic Treatment. Cervical manipulation has been shown to be effective for neck problems and radiculopathy. The risks of cervical manipulation appear to be very low, with fatalities occurring less than one in a million times.
6) Narcotics. In acute situations, these can help a lot. The radiculopathy pain can be disabling, and narcotics can help the patient improve function.
7) Non narcotic medications. These include neuromodulators like gabapentin, NSAIDS, and acetaminophen. They can assist with pain relief just as much as narcotics and should be first line treatment.
8) Muscle relaxers. Muscle spasms are typical with radiculopathy. Decreasing them with muscle relaxers like valium may reduce an individual's overall pain.
9) Acupuncture. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective for a lot of neurologic and musculoskeletal issues, and radiculopathy is no exception.
10) Massage. Can also decrease spasms and allow muscle relaxation.
What are the available therapeutic options? Here are 10, starting with the most aggressive.
1) Surgical intervention. Neck herniated disk surgery for radiculopathy is indicated when a person is experiencing motor weakness. It is not really known whether or not watching motor weakness for three to six months and then operating if the weakness will improve even after a satisfactory decompression. If a person has nonoperative treatment for over six weeks that doesn't work and is still miserable, then surgery may help as a quality of life decision.
2) Interventional pain management. Usually if left alone, a cervical herniation will desintegrate at the region of nerve root compression. An epidural steroid injection can help the patient avoid surgery. It can cover the root in a soothing anti-inflammation medication and decrease pain, thereby making for a better existence while hopefully the disk piece desintegrates and the pain from compression disappears.
3) Physical Therapy. PT and Rehab may help considerably in radiculopathy patients. The person might necessitate an epidural injection prior to PT and maybe some pain medication, but PT often improves range of motion and reduce pain.
4) Spinal Decompression Therapy. This is a nonsurgical treatment involving intermittent traction. The treatment has worked well for the low back but also for treating neck radiculopathy. Typicall treatment goes on for 20 sessions.
5) Chiropractic Treatment. Cervical manipulation has been shown to be effective for neck problems and radiculopathy. The risks of cervical manipulation appear to be very low, with fatalities occurring less than one in a million times.
6) Narcotics. In acute situations, these can help a lot. The radiculopathy pain can be disabling, and narcotics can help the patient improve function.
7) Non narcotic medications. These include neuromodulators like gabapentin, NSAIDS, and acetaminophen. They can assist with pain relief just as much as narcotics and should be first line treatment.
8) Muscle relaxers. Muscle spasms are typical with radiculopathy. Decreasing them with muscle relaxers like valium may reduce an individual's overall pain.
9) Acupuncture. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective for a lot of neurologic and musculoskeletal issues, and radiculopathy is no exception.
10) Massage. Can also decrease spasms and allow muscle relaxation.
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Want to find out more about Phoenix Chiropractors, then visit Preferred Pain Center's site on how to choose the best Arizona Pain Center for your needs.
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