Best Radiculopathy Doctors in Bangalore

Types/Stages of Radiculopathy

Radiculopathy can manifest in several forms depending on the affected region of the spine:

• Cervical Radiculopathy: This type impacts the nerve roots in the neck and results in symptoms like pain, numbness, or weakness in the shoulder, arm, and hand.

• Thoracic Radiculopathy: This affects the nerve roots in the upper back and can cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the chest, abdomen, or back.

• Lumbar Radiculopathy: This affects the nerve roots in the lower back and often causes pain, numbness, or weakness in the buttock, leg, and foot.

Symptoms of Radiculopathy

The main symptoms of radiculopathy vary based on the area of the spine affected but typically include:

• Pain radiating along the affected nerve distribution

• Numbness or tingling sensation in the affected limb

• Weakness or atrophy in muscle groups along the path of the affected nerve

• Decreased or absent deep tendon reflexes

Tests to Diagnose Radiculopathy

Radiculopathy can be diagnosed using various tests, which include:

• Neurological examination: To check reflexes and muscle strength.

• Imaging tests like X-ray, MRI or CT scan: To get a detailed view of the spine.

• Electromyography (EMG): To assess electrical activity in muscles.

• Nerve Conduction study: To determine how well the nerves transmit electrical signals.

• Selective Nerve Root Blocks (SNRB): To identify a specific nerve root suspected to be the cause.

Treatment or Surgery Options for Radiculopathy at Apollo Hospitals Bangalore

At Apollo Hospitals Bangalore, radiculopathy patients are offered a range of treatment options including:

• Medication: This typically includes pain relievers such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and sometimes, nerve pain medications like gabapentin.

• Physical therapy and exercise: Specific exercises can help relieve pain and decrease inflammation.

• Epidural steroid injections: These can help reduce inflammation around the affected nerve root.

• Spinal manipulation or manual therapy: This non-invasive treatment can help improve spinal function and reduce pain.

• Surgery: When conservative treatments fail, neurosurgeons recommend options like anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), cervical disc replacement (CDR), posterior cervical foraminotomy, lumbar decompression procedures, or lumbar fusion may be considered.

Remember, finding the right radiculopathy doctor can make all the difference in effective disease management. Apollo Hospitals Bangalore stand committed to providing the best care for patients battling radiculopathy.