RADICULOPATHY
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Radiculopathay,
But were Afraid to Ask
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Radiculopathay,
But were Afraid to Ask
If you understand this simple drawing above, you already have a basic understanding of the nervous system. Your brain controls every single function of your body via an electrical wiring harness made up of nerves. Nerves connect your brain to the various organs, tissues, glands, and muscles of your body so that your body can communicate with the brain ---- and the brain can communicate with the body. As a chiropractor, I deal with SUBLUXATIONS. These are bones (usually vertebrae) that are either out of place or not moving freely in relationship to each other. One of the problems with subluxations is that even in the absence of pain, they can create nerve interference. Just remember that when you create an interference in the nerve system, you tend to cause at least some degree of dysfunction to whatever gland, organ, or tissue which that particular nerve controls.
RADICULOPATHY DEFINITION:
Radiculopathy not a specific condition. It is descriptive of the phenomena in which one or more nerve roots are affected at or near the spine. The result can be pain where the nerve root is actually being irritated, but it frequently goes beyond that. It often causes radicular pain (pain anywhere along the pathway of the irritated nerve), weakness, numbness & tingling, or difficulty controlling specific muscles / movements. This phenomenon is often called "Referred Pain". Because these same Spinal Nerves also control organ and glandular function, these can be affected as well.
DISC PROBLEMS:
Sometimes this nerve interference is not caused chiefly by a Subluxation, but by a Spinal Disc Problem. Disc Problems that can cause Radiculopathy include "The Big Four" ---- HERNIATED DISCS, DEGENERATIVE DISCS, FACET SYNDROME or SPINAL STENOSIS. Many people realize that when these problems are in your low back they can cause SCIATICA (pain or symptoms in the leg(s), but fewer people are aware that an almost identical scenario can take place in the neck and arms. When this happens, the problem is typically referred to as "Radiculopathy" or "Cervical Radiculopathy"
Understanding SCIATICA is simple. All the nerves from your low back and pelvis grow together into one large nerve. This nerve is as large as your biggest finger, and travels down your leg; all the way to your toes. A "Cervical Radiculopathy" acts in a similar fashion. All the nerves from the lower 2/3 of your neck grow together to form 3 main nerves that eventually end up in your arm and hand (Radial Nerve, Ulnar Nerve, and Median Nerve). Cervical Radiculopathy will typically manifest with pain, but can also cause pins & needles, numbness & tingling, weakness, burning, and various other paresthesias (odd sensations). Here are some pictures that will help you understand Cervical Radiculopathy.
RADICULOPATHY DEFINITION:
Radiculopathy not a specific condition. It is descriptive of the phenomena in which one or more nerve roots are affected at or near the spine. The result can be pain where the nerve root is actually being irritated, but it frequently goes beyond that. It often causes radicular pain (pain anywhere along the pathway of the irritated nerve), weakness, numbness & tingling, or difficulty controlling specific muscles / movements. This phenomenon is often called "Referred Pain". Because these same Spinal Nerves also control organ and glandular function, these can be affected as well.
DISC PROBLEMS:
Sometimes this nerve interference is not caused chiefly by a Subluxation, but by a Spinal Disc Problem. Disc Problems that can cause Radiculopathy include "The Big Four" ---- HERNIATED DISCS, DEGENERATIVE DISCS, FACET SYNDROME or SPINAL STENOSIS. Many people realize that when these problems are in your low back they can cause SCIATICA (pain or symptoms in the leg(s), but fewer people are aware that an almost identical scenario can take place in the neck and arms. When this happens, the problem is typically referred to as "Radiculopathy" or "Cervical Radiculopathy"
Understanding SCIATICA is simple. All the nerves from your low back and pelvis grow together into one large nerve. This nerve is as large as your biggest finger, and travels down your leg; all the way to your toes. A "Cervical Radiculopathy" acts in a similar fashion. All the nerves from the lower 2/3 of your neck grow together to form 3 main nerves that eventually end up in your arm and hand (Radial Nerve, Ulnar Nerve, and Median Nerve). Cervical Radiculopathy will typically manifest with pain, but can also cause pins & needles, numbness & tingling, weakness, burning, and various other paresthesias (odd sensations). Here are some pictures that will help you understand Cervical Radiculopathy.
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 | CARPAL TUNNEL & OTHER FORMS OF RADICULOPATHY Sometimes Radiculopathy has nothing at all to do with a Disc Problem or "Pinched Nerve". Current medical research points to the fact that many (if not most) forms of Peripheral Neuropathy are actually Autoimmune Diseases. AUTOIMMUNITY along with INFLAMMATION and GLUTEN SENSITIVITY are being touted as important (if not causal) factors in Peripheral Neruopathies such as CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME, Restless Leg Syndrome, and others. If your problem is caused by a SUBLUXATION, FASCIAL ADHESION, or SPINAL DISC, I can help you. If your problem is BRAIN BASED or METABOLIC, I can probably also help --- although it will not be solely through Spinal Decompression Therapy. It will require some testing and work on your part, but odds are that you could actually get better. |
To set up a Free, No-Obligation consultation with me (Dr. Russell Schierling), simply call (417) 934-6337 and talk to Tracy. I will sit down with you and look at your history as well as your tests. If I can help you, I will explain how and what it will take. If I cannot help you --- no hard feelings; I will try and get you to someone who can. Like I have said for a long time; NOT EVERYONE IS A GOOD CANDIDATE for Spinal Decompression Therapy.
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