Radiculopathy is nerve compression 

Radiculopathy is an irritating condition in which a nerve exiting the spine is put under pressure. The resulting symptoms include:

• Pain
• Feelings of tingling and numbness
• Weakness around the nerve 
• Weakness in the extremities

Because spinal nerves literally innervate the rest of your body, compression here is likely to cause dysfunction and pain. It is liable to occur in any segment of the spine, but most cases are found in the cervical and lumbar segments of the spine. 

Why does radiculopathy happen?

Radiculopathy is classic nerve compression: activities that place an excessive strain on the spine are likely to lead to the development of radiculopathy. Likewise, repetitive trauma resulting from being overly-sedentary and sitting with poor posture can cause radiculopathy. 

In any case, the body is likely to resolve radiculopathy itself in the time frame of 3 weeks to 6 months, given no treatment; very rarely does this condition call for more aggressive forms of treatment. 

So then why choose chiropractic treatment for radiculopathy?

Some people can’t abide by the irritation and infringement on their lifestyle that is caused by radiculopathy. In the case you do choose to treat it, chiropractic is a conservative treatment that has fantastic results in resolving radiculopathy. Gentle, targeted spinal adjustments are used to resolve nerve compression in the affected area by restoring spinal alignment. Spinal traction is an even gentler method that seeks to provide decompression therapy to the affected region, creating negative pressure between the vertebrae and allowing for rehydration and the replenishing of nutrients in the injurious region. If you are interested in chiropractic treatment for radiculopathy in Dunedin, give our office a call to schedule an appointment and start the conversation today.