Radiculopathy symptoms & treatment

Radiculopathy occurs when pressure on nerve roots in your spine causes weakness, numbness or pain that radiates down your arm or leg. Radiculopathy is also known as a pinched nerve. Depending on the location of the pressure, you may also have difficulty controlling specific muscles.

We focus on nonsurgical treatments, such as injections or physical therapy, when possible. If those methods don’t provide relief, we’ll discuss surgical options with you. Together, we’ll find the treatments that fit your needs and lifestyle.

Advanced treatment for radiculopathy

• Care that’s focused on you: We work hard to find the treatment solution that works best for you. You may benefit from a customized physical therapy plan or you may need a minimally invasive surgical procedure. We consider your health goals, personal preferences and lifestyle when creating a care plan. Together, we’ll help you get back to enjoying your life.
• Collaborative orthopedic and neurosurgery care: Our multidisciplinary teams include orthopedists, neurosurgeons, chiropractors, acupuncturists, physical therapists and physiatrists. This team comes together for a conference to discuss your progress, test results and current medical condition in order to determine the best treatment. We’re one of the only centers in Wisconsin that offers this kind of integrated care. Working together, we provide comprehensive, coordinated care that treats your pain and other symptoms while protecting the health of your spine.
• Minimally invasive techniques: If you need spine surgery, our orthopedic and neurosurgery experts use minimally invasive techniques, including utilizing a miniature robotic camera that’s more powerful than a microscope. Such methods deliver more precise surgery, with less damage to healthy tissue than conventional open surgeries. Patients usually have a more comfortable, faster recovery and better long-term results.

Symptoms & causes of radiculopathy

Radiculopathy starts with numbness, pain or weakness. Some people describe numbness as a pins-and-needles sensation. Others describe a feeling of water running down their arm or leg.

It’s important to get a diagnosis early. Once weakness develops, it’s harder to recover strength. If radiculopathy is ignored for too long, it can lead to complications.

Possible risk factors for radiculopathy are osteoporosis, obesity or using poor lifting techniques when lifting heavy objects.

Diagnosis of radiculopathy

Our doctors gather a thorough medical history and perform a comprehensive physical exam. They’ll ask whether your pain came on gradually or as a result of an acute injury. They’ll carefully manipulate the affected limb to assess the source of the pain and any degree of weakness. Locating the source of the pain often identifies which nerves are involved.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans may be performed to gain detailed images of the affected area.

Treatment of radiculopathy

Nonsurgical treatment

Many people will get better on their own with time and rest to the affected area. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®) and naproxen (Aleve®) can relieve pain.

A course of physical therapy can help strengthen muscles in the affected area.

Integrative medicine options such as chiropractic care or acupuncture may be recommended. These treatments are intended to help improve your symptoms more quickly while the body heals naturally.

Our multidisciplinary teams also include physiatrists skilled at managing pain and reducing swelling with injections, ultrasound and other treatments.

Surgical treatment

Our team of orthopedists, neurosurgeons, chiropractors, acupuncturists, physical therapists and physiatrists will discuss your progress, test results and current medical condition. If surgery is recommended, we’ll work with you to decide how to proceed. Treatment for radiculopathy is often performed on an outpatient basis.

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