Radiculopathy & Sciatica

When an inter-vertebral disc herniates (slipped disc), it often compresses a spinal nerve, resulting in radiculopathy. Burning or shooting pain into the arms or legs characterizes radiculopathy. If this occurs in the legs, many people call this type of radiculopathy, sciatica. Assuming certain positions often worsens radiculopathy. In 90% of cases, radiculopathy resolves without surgery. Symptoms can be treated with anti-inflammatory pain medications or steroid pills. Some patients obtain relief after an injection of steroids into the spinal canal (epidural steroid injection). If symptoms persist for 8 weeks or longer, a patient can consider having the offending disc removed surgically.

Resources:

Cervical Radiculopathy
Sciatica