Dr. Nayan Patel, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Specialist at Texas Back Institute discusses the radiculopathy or radicular syndrome. Radicular syndrome results in pain and other symptoms such as numbness, tingling and weakness in the arms or legs. It is caused by compressed or irritated nerve roots. The nerve roots are branches of the spinal cord that carry nerve signals out to the rest of the body at each level along the spine. Radicular syndrome is often caused by direct pressure from a herniated disc or degenerative changes in the spine that cause irritation and inflammation of the nerve roots by bone spurs or collapse of the nerve root tunnels (foramen). Sensory symptoms are more common than motor symptoms, and muscle weakness is usually a sign that the nerve compression is more severe. The quality and type of pain resulting from radicular syndrome can vary, from dull, aching and difficult to localize, to sharp and burning.
