What Is Radiculopathy?
Radiculopathy is caused by a pinched nerve in your spine. It especially occurs when there is compression or irritation on one of your nerve roots, which are the points where your nerves join your spinal column. It may also be known as radiculitis.
Radiculopathy might produce tingling, numbness, or discomfort in the area of your pinched nerve.
The type of radiculopathy that your healthcare professional will diagnose depends on where the pinched nerve is located along your spine. There are three types:
- Cervical radiculopathy (neck).
- Thoracic radiculopathy (upper middle back).
- Lumbar radiculopathy (low back).
The major treatments you will need to improve your radiculopathy are improving your posture, over-the-counter medicine and at-home physical therapy exercises. In fact, some cases of radiculopathy improve with no treatment at all.