RADICULOPATHY VS. NEUROPATHY
RADICULOPATHY VS. NEUROPATHY
The symptoms of radiculopathy and neuropathy often overlap. So, this makes diagnoses and treatment challenging, even for specialists. While both conditions involve nerve damage, the main difference is location. In the case of radiculopathy, the problem occurs at or near the root of the nerve, shortly after its exit from the spinal cord. However, the pain or other symptoms often radiate to the part of the body served by that nerve. Peripheral neuropathy, often shortened to neuropathy, is a general term describing a disease affecting the peripheral nerves, meaning nerves beyond the brain and spinal cord. Damage to peripheral nerves may impair sensation, movement, gland, or organ function depending on which nerves are affected; in other words, neuropathy affecting motor, sensory, or autonomic nerves results in different symptoms. We review each so you can better understand the differences.
Radiculopathy
Radiculopathy is generally talked about as a pinched nerve. There are 31 pairs of nerves and roots in our bodies. It is radiculopathy when one of those nerves is pinched, pressed on, or inflamed, which often causes symptoms in a related part of the body. 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.
Radiculopathy can result in pain (radicular pain), weakness, altered sensation (paresthesia), or difficulty controlling specific muscles. Pinched nerves arise when surrounding bone or tissue, such as cartilage, muscles, or tendons, put pressure on the nerve and disrupt its function.
The radicular pain that results from radiculopathy should not be confused with referred pain, which is different both in mechanism and clinical features. Polyradiculopathy refers to more than one spinal nerve root being affected.
Symptoms
The diagnosis may be suggested by symptoms of pain, numbness, paresthesia, and weakness in a pattern consistent with the distribution of a particular nerve root, such as the sciatic nerve with sciatica. Neck pain or back pain may also be present. Physical examination may reveal motor and sensory deficits along a nerve root. In the case of cervical radiculopathy (the neck), a Spurling's test may elicit or reproduce symptoms radiating down the arm. Similarly, in the case of lumbosacral radiculopathy (the lower back), a straight leg raise may produce symptoms down the leg. Thoracic radiculopathy usually results in pain and numbness in the front of your body. These symptoms may be constant or may worsen with certain activities. You may experience only one or two of them. It is even possible to have long periods of experiencing no symptoms, only to have an occasional flare-up.
What Is The Difference Between Sciatica And Radiculopathy?
Sciatica is a type of radiculopathy, although the terms are often used interchangeably. Sciatica is pain going down the leg from the lower back. This pain may go down the back, outside, or front of the leg. Onset is often sudden following activities like heavy lifting, though gradual onset may also occur. The pain is often described as shooting. Typically, symptoms are only on one side of the body. Certain causes, however, may result in pain on both sides.
About 90% of sciatica is due to a spinal disc herniation pressing on one of the lumbar or sacral nerve roots. Spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome, pelvic tumors, and pregnancy are other possible causes of sciatica.
Common symptoms of sciatica include:
Lower back pain that extends down the back of one thigh
Buttock pain that extends down to your foot
Weakness or numbness (in severe cases)
Is Radiculopathy Nerve Damage?
Yes, radiculopathy is a type of nerve damage. However, it is often not permanent because the damage results from a nerve root being pinched or inflamed. Radiculopathy can be caused by arthritis, disc herniation, ligament hypertrophy, bone spurs, or inflammation from trauma. These can occur in car, truck, motorcycle, or rideshare accidents.
Treatment
Ideally, effective treatment aims to resolve the underlying cause and restores the nerve root to normal function. Conservative treatment may include bed rest, physical therapy, or simply continuing to do usual activities; for pain, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, nonopioid, or, in some cases, narcotic analgesics may be prescribed. Studies show that spinal manipulation effectively treats acute lumbar radiculopathy and cervical radiculopathy. Evidence also supports the use of epidural steroid injection with a local anesthetic to improve both pain and function in cases of lumbosacral radiculopathy. A professional should evaluate moderate to severe cases to determine the best course of treatment. Surgery may be the best option for lasting relief, but it is often reserved for severe cases or when non-surgical treatments have not been effective.
The most common non-surgical treatments include:
Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Physical therapy
Chiropractic care
Steroid injections
Neuropathy
Neuropathy is a general term that refers to several nervous system disorders. Typically, it is a general term for inflammation of a nerve or the general inflammation of the peripheral nervous system (meaning nerves beyond the brain and spinal cord). Symptoms depend on the nerves involved but may include pain, paresthesia (pins-and-needles), paresis (weakness), hypoesthesia (numbness), anesthesia, paralysis, wasting, and disappearance of the reflexes.
There are several types of neuropathy:
Peripheral Neuropathy - Nerve damage outside the brain and spinal cord. There are more than 100 types of peripheral neuropathy. Still, the three main categories include motor neuropathy (damage to the nerves controlling your muscles and movement), sensory neuropathy (damage to the nerves controlling your senses), and autonomic nerve neuropathy (damage to the nerves controlling unconscious functions such as breathing and heartbeat).
Cranial Neuropathy - Damage to 1 or more of 12 cranial nerves. Vision and hearing may be affected.
Autonomic Neuropathy - Damage to nerves in the involuntary nervous system, which controls many organs. It may affect circulation, digestion, bowel/bladder function, sexual response, and perspiration.
Focal Neuropathy - Damage limited to a single nerve, group of nerves, or one area of your body.
Diabetic Neuropathy - Nerve damage from diabetes, usually affecting your feet or legs.
There are several possible causes of neuropathy, including hereditary disorders like diabetes, alcohol abuse, nutritional deficiencies, exposure to certain drugs, infections, and trauma (which can occur after a bus accident, slip and fall, or another accident).
Symptoms
Because neuropathy is used to describe such a wide range of nerve disorders, the symptoms vary depending on the type you are experiencing. The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy overlap with radiculopathy and include pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling. These similarities are why the two are often confused.
These are some other signs of neuropathy:
Changes in skin, hair, or nails
Emotional disturbances
Difficulty sleeping
Loss of bowel or bladder control
Perspiration problems
Loss of control over blood pressure
Trouble eating or swallowing
What Is The Difference Between Neuropathy & Polyneuropathy?
Polyneuropathy is a term used to describe the extent of nerve damage. If multiple peripheral nerves are damaged, it is polyneuropathy. In cases where only one nerve is affected, it is mononeuropathy. If you are experiencing neuropathy, it is far more common to have damaged multiple peripheral nerves than just one.
Treatment
Unlike radiculopathy, neuropathy is rarely treated with surgery. For this reason, it becomes crucial to make sure your nerve condition is diagnosed correctly. When it comes to treatment, physicians will often look at the cause. If a health condition or nutritional deficiency is responsible, it is most effective to treat and manage those first. Many suffering from neuropathy will find relief when they focus on the root of the problem.
Other forms of treatment may include:
Over-the-counter or prescription pain medications
Chiropractic care
Physical therapy
Nerve Damage Caused by Trauma? We Can Help.
If your radiculopathy or neuropathy resulted from trauma caused by another person's negligence, Cohan PLLC is here to help you fight for full and fair compensation. As well-respected personal injury attorneys, we believe we must provide security, guidance, and hope in an uncertain time. No matter what.
Our firm will do whatever it takes to help you recover. Call (888) 424-2736 or fill out our contact form!
