There’s a chance you’ve never heard the word radiculopathy, but there’s also a chance you or someone you know has experienced it!
Radiculopathy is characterized by motor and/or sensory changes in the neck and arms or the legs and feet, which results from extrinsic pressure on the nerve root.
Spinal nerve roots extend directly from the spinal cord to the body's major nerves, which branch out into smaller nerves that send signals to various parts of the body. When a nerve root becomes pinched or injured, it cannot send and receive nerve signals normally.
Symptoms of radiculopathy include:
Sharp pain in the back, arms, legs or shoulders that may worsen with certain activities, even something as simple as coughing or sneezing.
Weakness or loss of reflexes in the arms or legs.
Numbness of the skin, “pins and needles,” or other abnormal sensations (paresthesia) in the arms or legs.
Gentle, subtle chiropractic adjustments to the spine can ease radiculopathy symptoms by treating their underlying cause. For example, adjustments that improve your neck alignment can shift bones or herniated discs away from nerve tissue, restoring the normal flow of nerve signals. Using chiropractic not only helps alleviate symptoms and disruptions in life caused by radiculopathy, it can also help you avoid potential overuse of painkillers or even surgery. Once your acute radiculopathy is under control, Dr. Laura can also offer helpful tips for avoiding future episodes such as ongoing exercises, ergonomic changes to promote a healthier posture, and, of course, regular chiropractic exams to catch and correct any early-stage spinal imbalances before they become an issue!
Wondering if radiculopathy might be an issue for you or someone you know? Call us today to schedule a consult or an appointment!
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