What is neck radiculopathy?
Neck radiculopathy is a condition caused by compression and inflammation of a nerve root in the neck.
In a large percentage of clinical cases, the diagnosis does not require surgical intervention. No one is immune from this pathology, although it is especially common in adults.
The following symptoms are characteristic:
- Pain
- Numbness
- Tingling sensation;
- Muscle weakness;
- Slowed reflexes.
Compression is formed for 2 main reasons:
- Age-related degenerative changes in the spine;
- Disc herniation.
Risk factors are:
- Increasing age;
- Repetitive neck movements;
- Do not exercise regularly;
- Poor body posture;
- You hold things incorrectly, that is, you overload your neck;
- Neck injury.
- More than 85% of cases of neck radiculopathy heal without any specific intervention within 8 to 12 weeks.
However, in case of acute symptoms, one of the methods is prescribed:
- Immobilization;
- Medicines;
- Physiotherapy;
- Epidural steroid injection in the neck.
As a rule, doctors start the course of treatment with non-surgical methods, however, if the desired result is not achieved, surgery is prescribed.
Source:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22639-cervical-radiculopathy-pinched-nerve
