{"id":7127,"date":"2019-06-06T05:49:04","date_gmt":"2019-06-06T05:49:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=7127"},"modified":"2021-04-12T16:23:26","modified_gmt":"2021-04-12T16:23:26","slug":"14-general-causes-of-radiculopathy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-general-causes-of-radiculopathy\/","title":{"rendered":"14 General Causes of Radiculopathy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The degeneration of the cervical spine <\/a>can result in a few different conditions developing. This can cause problems that if left untreated, are likely to get worse and worse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problems can usually be divided into two categories, those which would be classed as mechanical problems and those which are more to do with the nerves. The mechanical problems usually affect the neck structurally whilst the nerve problems usually involve a fairly high amount of pinching or irritation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cervical radiculopathy is a type of problem that results when a pinched nerve in the proximity of the neck becomes pinched or irritated as it exits the spinal canal. This condition only usually happens when a nerve root is compromised or pinched by a slipped disc, a herniated disc or even a bone spur. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As with most illnesses and injuries, the first port of call is to identify what the cause of the problem is. Here are 8 of the most common causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. \tMechanical Compression<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mechanical compression occurs when the vertebrae <\/a>in the neck close in on one another in a way that creates too much pressure for the body to deal with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A mechanical compression can come on over a long period of time, due to incorrect posture when sitting down or standing for instance, but can also come on rather suddenly, after an accident or an injury. Mechanical compressions cause lots of problems and they can be problematic to treat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any kind of surgical intervention to bring about a decompression is usually given a wide berth as the risks of spinal surgery can often outweigh the potential benefits of a successful operation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many people choose to use more conservative treatments to try and address their compression issues such as hanging from inversion tables or receiving deep tissue and sports massages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Car accidents and injuries obtained in high impact sports are amongst the main causes of mechanical compression injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. \tDegenerative Disc Disease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The word disease in this cause is something that many doctors and medical professionals wish would be taken out of the description. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Degenerative disc disease, or DDD as it is commonly known, refers to a perfectly natural aging process where the fluid-filled discs which sit between each vertebra begin to erode and lose height. This can be something that is asymptomatic <\/a>in a lot of people and it is even claimed that if you scanned the spines of everybody in the street, the vast majority of people would show some signs of DDD, whether they showed signs of feeling pain from it or not. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most commonly affected discs in the spine are those found near L4 and L5 in the lumbar spine, but cervical radiculopathy will come, as the name suggests, from the degeneration of discs in the cervical spine, which is of course mainly found in the neck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. \tOsteoarthritis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Osteoarthritis <\/a>is a condition that can affect anyone at any time in their life, but there is a much higher prevalence in older women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The condition causes bones to lose their density at a much faster rate than with the normal process of aging. What this means is that fractures and bone breakages become incredibly more likely to people with the condition. Particularly for people who already had spinal issues, osteoarthritis can make life a miserable pain to endure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The usual process that the body employs to rebuild bones and their structures is unable to keep up with the rate at which existing bone is depleted and eroded. This can result in further complications such as the development of cervical radiculopathy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no known cure for osteoarthritis and the outlook for people diagnosed with this condition focuses mainly on two areas, pain management and functional movement, something which becomes harder and harder with the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. \tFacet Joint Degeneration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The degeneration of the facet joints is something that happens in everyone over time, and much like DDD is an accepted part of the aging process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people may find that either through overuse and wear and tear or through hereditary conditions and predispositions, their facet joints actually degrade much faster than would normally be expected. This can cause radiculopathy as the nerves<\/a> and tissues around the bones and the facet joints are impinged or irritated when they would normally be left alone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, there are a large number of professional pole-vaulters who retire with facet joint degeneration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One Russian athlete named Sergei Olenko retired as he was on the brink of qualifying for an Olympic Games in the 1990s. He had the expectations of the nation on his shoulders but was unable to compete due to his ongoing issues. He later went on to develop radiculopathy and has written a book on how to cope with the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. \tSpondylolisthesis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This long-winded condition refers to a slippage of one or more of the vertebrae<\/a> in the spine, causing a loss of height and an impingement on the nerves within close proximity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people who present with this condition find that they have few symptoms and even little to no pain, whereas other people with the condition are condemned to a life of immobility and a dependence on pain medication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The occurrence of this issue can either cause radiculopathy to develop in a short space of time or mean that the condition develops at a much slower pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re the person suffering though, it’s unlikely that you’ll be too concerned with the timescale of how your spondylolisthesis caused your radiculopathy, you\u2019re far more likely to be interested in just what you can do to provide any relief at all from the worsening pain and constant discomfort. Good luck with that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. \tInfections Like Shingles or HIV<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Certain infections <\/a>that mess with the autoimmune system can lead to radiculopathy developing. Amongst the most common offenders where this is concerned are shingles and HIV. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As if living with a complex and life-changing illness wasn’t enough, the added complication radiculopathy brings yet another challenge to the lives of so many people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The outlook for people with HIV has improved dramatically in recent years and the disease is no longer looked at as an immediate death sentence. That said, the correlation of HIV and a range of other illnesses and conditions have meant that it still enjoys one of the most feared reputations in the world of health and fitness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one wants HIV and anyone with HIV doesn’t want to develop radiculopathy. It’s a cruel world out there folks and we have to look out for ourselves. The best way to ensure things like shingles and HIV doesn’t cause radiculopathy is to ensure one doesn\u2019t become infected with things like shingles and HIV in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Spinal Epidural abscess or Hematoma<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Any kind of issue with the spine is always a big concern for the person affected and perhaps no more so than with abscesses <\/a>and hematomas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both of the conditions carry their own weight of dread in the world of spinal problems but they can also herald the arrival of radiculopathy, making them both even more unwelcome than they already are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lives of people living with spine problems such as abscesses and hematomas are difficult enough without them having to undergo further tests and treatments for a seemingly endless list of possible complications and potential issues further down the line. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One person who was treated for spinal abscessed at an Orlando hospital described the process as something that would have been more at home in a sci-fi film. The whole scenario made them feel as though they had been abducted by aliens, apparently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Radiculopathy as it happens, won\u2019t take you to its leader and it doesn\u2019t come in peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. \tLyme Disease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lyme disease<\/a> is something that used to be a killer. It still is in many developing countries where the treatment isn’t as good as it could be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Treating someone for Lyme disease is complicated enough without having to worry about any potential complications or additional problems. Many of the potential complications or additional problems that come with Lyme disease could be negligible and not worth paying too much attention to, however, radiculopathy isn’t one of these. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When treating someone for radiculopathy, doctors will always look to examine full medical histories and profiles to explore the potential causes of the condition. This can mean that people start to feel the effects of an old illness long after they thought they had made a full recovery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one wants a blast from the past if that blast from the past is a remnant of Lyme disease. Just another one of the general causes of radiculopathy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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