If you are familiar with the feeling of constant aching pain in the shoulders and neck with "shooting" attacks, numbness of the fingers, a pressing headache in the back of the head, then you definitely need to contact a specialist at the medical center of orthopedics and traumatology, because the cause of this may be problems with the spine .
Radiculopathy, or the so-called root syndrome, is a symptom complex characterized by a chronic pain syndrome with periods of exacerbation.
For the correct diagnosis and differentiation of radicular syndrome from other pathologies, it is worth contacting a specialized specialist. After all, pain can be provoked both by a problem with the spine and by many other changes, the verification of which requires the attention of a professional.
Why does radicular syndrome occur?
As we age, our body and its cells lose the ability to maintain a high level of moisture intracellularly. Gradually, we notice these changes not only in appearance, such as wrinkles or less elastic skin than before, but also inside our body.
And where does shoulder pain come from? What leads to unbearable sensations in the body?
Back pain is probably the most common complaint that patients of the older age group come to the doctor with. And in the case of radiculopathy of the cervical and upper thoracic spine, the following symptoms develop:
- Pain in the back, shoulders, neck, nape of the neck
- Decrease in the volume of active movements in the shoulder joints due to the pain syndrome
- Forced position of the girdle of the upper limbs during sleep and physical activity to reduce the intensity of pain
- Burning sensation in the back of the head and neck
- Feeling of numbness in elbow joints and palms
- Trembling of the fingers
All symptoms can appear both unilaterally and on both sides at the same time. At the same time, the pain intensifies in certain positions of the body, for example, when bending the body and during physical exertion, and at rest it almost disappears.
Our spinal column is not a monolith, it has exit points of spinal nerves - sensitive and motor roots. It is these exit points that can be compressed by prolapsing pulp nuclei of the intervertebral disc. Local compression of the spinal nerve leads to the development of a local inflammatory process and swelling around the root. This swelling is the driving force behind pain syndrome, which darkens the life of almost every person in the world. These changes occur gradually, so the development of radicular syndrome will also have a progressive character.
It is worth noting that not only compression of the root by hernias and protrusions is the cause of edematous changes around it.
A number of conditions and diseases that can affect nerve irritation must be differentiated from each other. In particular, such as:
- Spondyloarthrosis
- Deforming spondylosis
- The presence of listhesis, that is, displaced vertebrae
- Compression fractures
- Specific lesions of the spinal column, such as tuberculosis, osteomyelitis, Ankylosing spondylitis, other ankylosing spondylitis
- Pathologically changed vertebrae, metastases of malignant formations
How to help yourself with radiculopathy and get rid of pain?
First - a mandatory visit to an orthopedic specialist for a physical examination, collection of medical history and development of tactics for your examination and treatment measures. A standard set of diagnostic procedures usually includes X-ray of the spine and, depending on the clinical need, computer tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Laboratory diagnostics, blood tests or other studies may also be required.
According to all the data, the diagnosis will be determined and the appropriate therapy will be selected. Our specialists have both the experience of medical correction of radicular syndrome and the standards of surgical interventions. In the Rudenko Medical Center, the practices of the world medical community and the acquisition of the latest medical research are successfully applied in order to most effectively help our patients forget about pain in their daily life.
In the context of preventing the development of radiculopathy, prevention of degenerative-dystrophic changes in our body plays an important role. If no medicine can stop them 100 percent, then it is quite possible to slow them down by following a few simple postulates:
- Adequate mode of work and rest
- Forget about a tiring work schedule with a lack of sleep. A full-fledged rest is absolutely necessary for any person.
- Balanced nutrition
Carbohydrates, fats and proteins in the right proportions and you will protect your body from overeating and excess body weight, which in turn will prevent the development of diabetes and degenerative conditions of the spine. A sufficient amount of liquid consumed, in accordance with your physical activity, will provide an opportunity to ensure a full course of metabolism in the cells.
- Physical activity
In the era of hypodynamia and a sedentary lifestyle, physical activity is not just important, but vital. Sport allows our body to grow and develop, cells to produce energy, the gastrointestinal tract to process the food consumed more efficiently, and the brain to concentrate and coordinate activities better.
Take care of your health together with the Rudenko medical center in Zaporizhzhia. We know how to restore your life without pain.