What is a radiculopathy?
A radiculopathy is an injured nerve. When a nerve has damage or compression it creates radiating or traveling symptoms. A good analogy is a light switch, when the switch is off so is the light bulb. One might think to check the light bulb in a dark room but most of us know to check the light switch first. Numbness in both hands often means a cervical or neck radiculopathy since that is where the common switch lies.
What causes a radiculopathy?
Trauma or injury of any kind can cause a radiculopathy. That can be both a significant trauma at one time or smaller insignificant traumas like poor posture over a very long time. Both cause irritation and damage to the nerve.
How can I treat a radiculopathy?
First you want to be examined by a doctor to determine how severe the radiculopathy is as some may need immediate surgery. For most cases a chiropractor is the best way to treat this type of nerve damage. A chiropractor does this by removing the pressure on the nerve through specific and gentle chiropractic adjustments. Once the compression is off of the nerve, the nerve can begin to heal naturally.
How long does it take to heal?
With treatment healing times can vary depending on the severity. Certain radiculopathies can take up to 6 months or even more. The sooner you seek treatment the better outcomes you can attain.
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