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Och Spine Services

Diagnosis & Treatment

Radiculopathy

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How is Radiculopathy Diagnosed?

Diagnosis

To diagnose radiculopathy, the doctor will review your medical history and perform a physical exam to look at your back and spine. You may also undergo physical tests to check the function and strength of your muscles and reflexes. Other tests may include:

  • X-rays use electromagnetic energy to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs. An X-ray can show the narrowing of the neural foramen (the holes by which the nerves exit the spinal canal), as well as spinal fractures.
  • CT scans use a computer linked to an X-ray machine to take a series of 3D pictures of your spine.
  • MRIs take detailed pictures of your spine and surrounding tissue. They can show if there has been damage to the soft tissue or spinal cord and determine what is causing the nerve compression.
  • Electromyogram uses small needles to measure the muscle response or electrical activity produced when a patient is asked to stimulate (squeeze or contract) a muscle. The test is used to detect neuromuscular issues and can help differentiate radiculopathy (a problem within the spine) from neuropathy (a problem external to the spine).

How is Radiculopathy Treated?

Treatment

Most cases of radiculopathy get better after a few days or weeks, without requiring medical intervention. Surgery is typically only recommended in the most severe cases. Depending on the severity and type of radiculopathy a patient has, there are several treatment options:

Nonsurgical options

  • Ice or heat. You may be asked to apply ice or heat to your back to reduce swelling and relax tight muscles.
  • Adjusting your posture. Improving your overall posture helps reduce the stress on your spine and relieve symptoms.
  • Physical therapy. Stretches and exercises will target the area around your spine and help ease pressure on your nerves, as well as relieve pain.
  • Weight loss strategies. Maintaining a healthier weight can reduce pressure on the problem area.
  • Taking steroids, nerve pain medications, muscle relaxants, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These medicines can help relax muscles or manage related symptoms.
  • Steroid injections in the spine. In more severe cases, steroid injections can reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

Surgical options

  • Discectomy removes the damaged portion of a herniated disk in the spine.
  • Laminectomy removes either part of or all of the vertebral bone, which helps ease pressure on the spinal cord.
  • Spinal fusion permanently connects two or more bones in the spine to stop the movement between them. This may be combined with a discectomy or laminectomy in certain situations.
  • Foraminotomy enlarges the area around the bones in your spinal column and relieves the pressure on compressed nerves.
  • Motion preservation surgery involving an artificial disc replacement or laminoplasty, which enlarges the spinal canal, may help to relieve pressure on a pinched nerve while maintaining motion in certain scenarios.

FAQs

FAQs

Certain factors and activities can worsen cervical radiculopathy symptoms, including bad posture, high-impact activities (running and weightlifting), compression to the top of the head, causing neck buckling, and tilting your head to the side where the pinched nerve is located.

Over 85 percent of patients with cervical radiculopathy are healed after eight to 12 weeks.

Get Care

Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for Radiculopathy Treatment

At NewYork-Presbyterian, we understand how debilitating neck and back problems can be, causing pain and discomfort and limiting your activities. If you have radiculopathy or symptoms of radiculopathy, consulting with a doctor who specializes in neck and back care is the best way to understand and manage your spinal health. At NewYork-Presbyterian, your spine rehabilitation team — consisting of physicians, therapists, and other health care providers — will create a personalized treatment plan for you to control your pain and restore your movement, strength, flexibility, and comfort. Call to make an appointment today and get relief from your radiculopathy symptoms.