Radiculopathy

Question 1

What is radiculopathy?

Answer 1

Neuropathic pain
- derived from the nerve itself or its connective tissue by mechanical or chemical stimulation

(5-10% LBP patients)

Question 2

What can be the mechanical stimulation of radiculopathy?

Answer 2

Compression from a disc, osteophyte or stenosis

Question 3

What can be the chemical stimulation of radiculopathy?

Answer 3

• Inflammatory chemicals
• Infection

Question 4

What can radiculopathy be characterised by?

Answer 4

• Severe, referred pain:
  ~ Often burning, sharp or shooting in nature
  ~ More pain distally a common feature
  ~ Minimal LBP not uncommon
• Pain can refer along a dermatomal pattern, or along a specific nerve (e.g.: sciatic or femoral nerve)
• Often accompanied with neurological symptoms (P&N/numbness), and/or neuro integrity deficits (D, M and R changes).

Question 5

What are some examples of radicular pain?

Answer 5

• Radicular pain
• Radiculopathy
• Spinal stenosis