Cervical Radiculopathy (Back Pain)
Back pain, clinically known as Cervical Radiculopathy is one of those common occurrence suffered by many. It affects persons of all ages and can be caused by a variety of factors. Some of the causes of back pain may include the type of activities we perform, occupation, bad practices such as lack of regular exercise, bad posture or a generative disc disease among others. While it can be debilitating, uncomfortable or painful, one can get help to rectify the problem. While some back pains may go away after some time, if the symptoms persist, it is recommended to get help as soon as possible. This is in order for a diagnostic to be performed and ensure it is nothing serious, as well as ensuring you are getting professional treatment.
Symptoms of Cervical Radiculopathy
Our backs are made of complex bones, discs, muscles, ligaments, nerves and tendons, which all work together to support our bodies and enable mobility and flexibility. When any of these components suffer any problems or damage, it may result in back pain. Patients experiencing back pain may feel weak or numb at the affected area. While the pain can only be felt in the affected area, it can also progress and be felt in other areas. For example, if pain is felt in the shoulder region, it may also be felt in the entire arm and even in the hands and fingers.
Back pain can hinder performance of simple activities since the spine is responsible for mobility and everyday movements such as bending and twisting. One of the major causes of back pain is injury. When muscles, discs, nerves, ligaments or joints suffer any type of injury or strain, the body may react and mobilize an inflammatory response to enable the injury to heal. While the inflammation may be minor, it can lead to severe back pain. In addition, since there are numerous nerves in the spinal region of our bodies, the brain has a hard time to accurately sense the exact cause of the pain. For example, you may suffer from a torn lumbar disc, which the brain may interpret as a pulled muscle. This means that your body will respond by creating an inflammation and a muscle spasm in the same area to try and combat the pain.
The symptoms of back pain will mostly depend on the underlying cause. It may occur suddenly, or start slowly and gradually become worse over time. Some of the symptoms may include feeling pain, weakness or numbness on the shoulders, upper arm region, neck, hand or lower back. Some patients may also experience multiple symptoms when inflammation and/or nerve compression occurs along multiple levels of the spine.
When to visit a specialist
When you suspect you have back pain and are experiencing symptoms that do not seem ordinary, it is highly advisable to get an accurate diagnosis. This is to ensure the treatment you receive targets the right place. Here are at Turramurra sports and spinal physio, we specialize in relieving your pain and restoring your lifestyle. For any back pain issues, you can call us on 9144-1510 now to schedule an appointment with one of our physiotherapists.