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Symptoms & Causes

Radiculopathy

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What Is Radiculopathy?

What Is Radiculopathy?

Radiculopathy, commonly referred to as a pinched nerve, is an injury or damage to a nerve in the spine. Your pinched nerve can make your arms and legs feel painful, numb, or tingly. This is commonly referred to colloquially as “sciatica.” Those between the ages of 30 and 50 are most at risk for developing the condition.

Differences Between Radiculopathy, Neuropathy, and Sciatica

While these diseases are all caused by nerve damage, there are important differences between radiculopathy, neuropathy, and sciatica:

Neuropathy 

  • Also referred to as peripheral neuropathy
  • Not a single condition or disease, but a term used to describe a range of conditions that involve damage to nerves and the resulting symptoms
  • Typically, with peripheral neuropathy, your nerves are damaged, but the damage isn’t located within the spine

Sciatica

  • Sciatica refers to pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling primarily in the leg and lower body
  • It is caused by injury or pressure on the sciatic nerve specifically
  • “Sciatica” is often used interchangeably with “radiculopathy” but should be differentiated given that the treatments may differ for sciatica and radiculopathy

Radiculopathy

  • Caused by the pinching or damaging of a nerve root within the spine
  • Symptoms of radiculopathy vary by the precise location and spinal level of the pinched nerve  (e.g., L5-S1 disc herniation pinching the S1 nerve, resulting in buttock and calf pain versus L3-4 disc herniation, pinching the L4 nerve, resulting in pain radiating to the front of the ankle)

Types of Radiculopathy

Types

Radiculopathy has different symptoms and different names depending on where the nerve damage or compression is located in the spine. The three types are:

  • Cervical radiculopathy. The nerves are compressed or damaged in the neck. Depending on the exact location of nerve compression, cervical radiculopathy may cause pain in the back of the head, the sides of the neck, the shoulders, the arms, or the hands, as well as muscle weakness and numbness that can travel down into the hands.
  • Lumbar radiculopathy. This type of radiculopathy occurs in the lower back. The pain or numbness affects your lower back and can spread to your hips, buttocks, and legs. This is the most commonly diagnosed type of radiculopathy. Given the overlap where pain is perceived with other common disorders (e.g., hip osteoarthritis, sacroiliac joint pain), it is important to confirm pain is arising from within the spine.
  • Thoracic radiculopathy.  The nerve roots are damaged or compressed in the upper back. Pain and numbness are typically felt in and around the chest, including when breathing. This is the least common type of radiculopathy.

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Signs & Symptoms of Radiculopathy

Symptoms

When a nerve root is compressed or damaged in the spine, it can become inflamed. The inflammation can lead to a variety of symptoms. The symptoms will be felt in the part of the body (arms, hands, shoulders, legs, neck, chest, upper or lower back) where the pinched nerve is located. Depending on where the nerve damage or compression occurs, symptoms may include:

  • Sharp pain
  • Tingling or numbness
  • Arm or leg weakness or decreased motor skills
  • Foot drop
  • Difficulty with walking
  • Loss of sensation
  • Bladder or bowel changes

At NewYork-Presbyterian, rehabilitation for neck and back problems is an integral part of the comprehensive care provided at our two renowned spine centers. Our highly trained physical and occupational therapists use a variety of hands-on techniques and non-invasive approaches to help you manage your radiculopathy symptoms.

What Causes Radiculopathy?

Causes

Radiculopathy is typically caused by a shift or change in the size of the spine and its surrounding tissues. These changes usually happen slowly over time as we get older. The causes of radiculopathy include:

Risk Factors

Risk Factors

While aging is an unavoidable risk factor in developing radiculopathy, some factors and activities can put you more at risk:

  • Repetitive motions
  • Poor posture
  • Poor nutrition and diet
  • Being overweight
  • Smoking
  • Family history of degenerative arthritis
  • Weightlifting
  • Long-distance running
  • Contact sports

Complications

Complications

If left untreated, radiculopathy can progress into chronic pain. Radiculopathy complications depend on the pinched nerve’s location and the patient’s medical history. Potential complications to be aware of include:  

  • Disability
  • Muscle atrophy
  • Problems walking and moving
  • Cauda equina syndrome
  • Severe lumbar radiculopathy
  • Weight gain
  • Muscle loss
  • Depression
  • Chronic pain
  • Opioid dependence

Prevention

Prevention

Many of the causes of radiculopathy cannot be prevented, but there are some steps you can take to lessen the development of the condition:

  • Maintaining good posture
  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Eating a healthy diet
  • Exercising regularly
  • Lifting weights properly while working out
  • Stretching before and after working out
  • Staying safe while playing sports
  • Avoiding smoking
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Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for Radiculopathy Care

Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian has experienced physicians and surgeons who collaborate to tailor a personalized care plan for each patient. It is important to seek treatment  for radiculopathy as soon as symptoms are felt to decrease the chances of developing chronic pain and relieve discomfort and mobility issues. Make an appointment with one of our spine experts today to receive treatment for your radiculopathy symptoms.