Risk Factors/Causes

Radiculopathy can be caused by a variety of conditions or injuries, including:

• A herniated disc compressing the nerve root
• Sciatica
• Degenerative disc disease
• Bone spurs
• Tumors of the spine
• Osteoarthritis or spinal arthritis
• Spinal stenosis; a painful condition when the spinal canal narrows
• Compression fractures
• Spondylolisthesis, when a vertebra moves and rests on the vertebra below
• Scoliosis
• Diabetes

Risk factors for developing radiculopathy include:

• Aging
• Being overweight
• Poor posture
• Improper lifting techniques
• Repetitive motions
• A family history of degenerative bone conditions

Treatment Options

In most cases, radiculopathy is treatable without surgery. Depending on the severity of your radiculopathy and other health conditions, Dr. Kalra may recommend certain medications, and/or treatments including:

• Non-steroidal drugs, such as ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen
• Oral corticosteroids or injectable steroids
• Gabapentin or Lyrica
• Physical therapy

In some cases, Dr. Kalra may recommend surgery to treat the cause of the nerve compression, such as repair of a herniated disc, widening of the spinal canal space, removing a bone spur or fusing the bones.

New Hope From a Spine Expert

When world-class training meets hometown values deeply rooted in family and community, the result is the kind of medical care you’ve always hoped for. This describes Kalra Brain & Spine, the practice of Dr. Ricky Kalra, who specializes in the most up-to-date evidence-based neurological care. If your condition requires neurosurgery, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kalra today.