Radiculopathy
Classification and external resources
ICD-10	G54, M54.1
ICD-9	723.4, 724.4, 729.2
DiseasesDB	29522
MeSH	D011843

Radiculopathy is not a specific condition, but rather a description of a problem in which one or more nerves are affected and do not work properly (a neuropathy). The emphasis is on the nerve root (Radix = "root"). This can result in pain (radicular pain), weakness, numbness, or difficulty controlling specific muscles.

In a radiculopathy, the problem is at or near the root of the nerve, along the spine. However, the pain or other symptoms may manifest in an extremity through a process called referred pain. For example, a nerve root impingement in the neck can produce pain and weakness in the forearm. Likewise, an impingement in the lower back or lumbar-sacral spine can be manifested with symptoms in the foot.

Polyradiculopathy is the name of the term for describing when more than one spinal nerve roots are affected.

Contents 1 Causes 2 Treatment 3 Types 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] Causes

The nerve(s) may be inflamed, pinched (compressed), or working ineffectively due to a lack of blood flow. The nerve could be affected by a progressive disease that is destroying it in part or in whole. The "straight leg raise test" can help to diagnosis a lumbar or sacral nerve root radiculopathy.

[edit] Treatment

Ideally effective treatment resolves the underlying cause and restores the nerve root to normal function. Common mainstream treatment approaches include physical therapy, medication, and surgery. Also, osteopathic manipulative treatment, chiropractic manipulative treatment, and acupuncture are common alternative treatment approaches.

[edit] Types

Forms of radiculopathy and related conditions:

• Cervical radiculopathy: Radiculopathy in the cervical spine
• Cauda equina syndrome
• Paraplegia
• Sciatica
• Quadriplegia
• Piriformis syndrome

[edit] See also

• Peripheral neuropathy

[edit] External links

• MeSH Radiculopathy
• Symptoms
• More on Radiculopathy
• Youtube video: Spine & Nerve Health with Dr. Aaron Filler (comparing Sciatica and Piriformis Syndrome)

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v • d • e Dorsopathies / spinal disease (M40-M54, 720-724,737) Deforming dorsopathies Spinal curvature Kyphosis · Lordosis · Scoliosis Other Scheuermann's disease · Torticollis Spondylopathy inflammatory: Ankylosing spondylitis · Sacroiliitis · Discitis · Pott disease noninflammatory: Spondylosis (Spondylolysis, Spondylolisthesis)  · Spinal stenosis Back pain Neck pain · Upper back pain · Low back pain (Coccydynia, Sciatica) Radiculopathy Intervertebral disc disorder Schmorl's nodes · Degenerative disc disease · Spinal disc herniation joint navs: anat, non-congenital arthropathies/deformities/dorsopathies/soft tissue arthropathy/congenital, eponymous signs, proc

v • d • e Nervous system pathology, PNS, Somatic (G50-G64, 350-357) Nerve, nerve root, plexus Cranial nerve disease V (Trigeminal neuralgia) · VII (Facial nerve paralysis, Bell's palsy, Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome, Central seven) · XI (Accessory nerve disorder) Radiculopathy, plexopathy brachial plexus (Brachial plexus lesion, Thoracic outlet syndrome) · Phantom limb Mono- neuropathy Upper limb median nerve (Carpal tunnel syndrome, Ape hand deformity) ulnar nerve (Ulnar nerve entrapment, Froment's sign, Guyon's canal syndrome, Ulnar claw) radial nerve (Radial neuropathy, Wrist drop) long thoracic nerve (Winged scapula) Lower limb lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh (Meralgia paraesthetica) tibial nerve (Tarsal tunnel syndrome) plantar nerve (Morton's neuroma) superior gluteal nerve (Trendelenburg's sign) sciatic nerve (Piriformis syndrome) General Causalgia · Mononeuritis multiplex · Neuropathy (Neuralgia/Neuritis) Polyneuropathies/ Polyradiculoneuropathy HMSN Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease · Dejerine Sottas syndrome · Refsum's disease · Hereditary spastic paraplegia Autoimmune/demyelinating Guillain–Barré syndrome · Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy Other Alcoholic polyneuropathy peripheral nervous system navs: anat/histo/physio/dev, noncongen PNS somatic/autonomic/congen/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc