Cervical and Thoracic Radiculopathy Pain Management Specialists
Cervical and Thoracic Radiculopathy
Condition Overview
Imagine your spine is like a long road with many smaller pathways branching out from it. These pathways are called nerve roots and they help your brain talk to the rest of your body. Radiculopathy is a word used when these pathways get pinched, injured or swollen as they leave the spine, causing pain. Keeping these pathways healthy is important because they connect your spine to other parts of your body that help you balance and move comfortably.
Radiculopathy often occurs in two main areas of the back: one in the upper-middle part (thoracic) and another at the very top (cervical). Other pain conditions like herniated discs and spinal stenosis can lead to radiculopathy because misalignment or inflammation in one part of the spine often impacts other parts.
When your nerves don’t have the room they need, you’ll feel pain. This pain can be relieved by working with a Nura pain specialist with experience and expertise in treating conditions like thoracic and cervical radiculopathy.
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Learn more about cervical radiculopathy
Symptoms of Cervical & Thoracic Radiculopathy
While both cervical and thoracic radiculopathy are conditions caused by irritated nerve roots, the symptoms of each vary based on where the pain is located and how severe it is. Let’s talk about common symptoms for each:
Common Symptoms of Cervical Radiculopathy include:
- Neck pain in the shoulder and upper arms
- Sharp, shooting sensations that travel down your arm
- Numbness and tingling in the arms, hands and fingers
- Difficulty with grip due to muscle weakness in the arms and hands
- Headaches that feel like they’re starting in your neck
Common Symptoms of Thoracic Radiculopathy include:
- Pain in the middle of your back, often feeling like it’s spreading around your ribcage
- Pain, numbness and tingling in the chest and stomach
- Discomfort and muscle weakness in the affected area
- In severe cases, difficulty breathing can occur
One important note: cervical and thoracic radiculopathy have similar symptoms to pinched nerves, with the main difference being where the feeling of pain (and the area needing specialist treatment) is located. If you suspect you’re feeling a pinched nerve in your spine, don’t worry — you’re in the right place.
Diagnosis of Cervical & Thoracic Radiculopathy
Diagnosing and determining proper treatment for cervical or thoracic radiculopathy begins with a specialist reviewing your medical history and gathering information about when you started experiencing your pain.
In some cases, nerve function tests or imaging tests like X-rays, MRIs and CT scans may be recommended.
Treatment Options for Cervical & Thoracic Radiculopathy
Treating cervical and thoracic radiculopathy aims to alleviate pain, reduce inflammation and improve function. Treatment options may vary depending on the severity of symptoms and the underlying cause with the most common treatment for radiculopathy being epidural steroid injections.
Other treatments can include:
Real people, real stories
My quality of life went from 10% to 150%.
Nearly 10 years ago, while she was being treated for a herniated disk, Rachel Saum’s life took a dramatic change for the worse.
The doctor who was treating her accidentally injected dye directly into Rachel’s spinal column. The dye destroyed a critical membrane and caused the onset of an extremely rare, incredibly painful condition.
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Find Pain Relief
Schedule an appointment with one of our pain specialists by filling out our appointment request form or giving us a call at 763-537-6000.
