Detecting the Differences Radiculopathy, Myelopathy and Peripheral Neuropathy
Unit 4 Discussion: Group B (Tammy, Heather and Merissa) What is Radiculopathy and how would it...
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Transcript of Unit 4 Discussion: Group B (Tammy, Heather and Merissa) What is Radiculopathy and how would it...
Unit 4 Discussion:Group B
(Tammy, Heather and Merissa)
What is Radiculopathy and how would it differ from a Neuropathy?
The term Radiculopathy is used to specifically describe pain and other symptoms including:
NumbnessTinglingWeakness
Radiculopathy usually creates a pattern of pain and numbness that is felt in your arms or your legs in the area of skin supplied by the sensory fibers of the
nerve root.Muscle weakness may also be present in
the muscles supplied by the same nerve root. (Back.com, 2009)
SCIATICA
This is pain that radiates
from the back into the
buttocks and down the legs
into the feet (Back.com, 2009)
Common Example of Radiculopathy Pain
Neuropathy is a disorder of the peripheral nerves which include: Motor Sensory Autonomic Which connect the spinal cord to muscles, skin and internal organs.
Like radiculopathy, neuropathy causes: Weakness Numbness Tingling Pain
HOWEVER;
Radiculopathy usually refers to injury of nerve roots along the spine due to compression, inflammation or trauma (McCance & Huether, 2003; Wikipedia, 2009). Causes may include osteoarthritis, disc herniation and scoliosis (Answers.com, 2008).
Neuropathy normally occurs in older adults with 30% of cases being idiopathic in origin, 30% related to diabetes and the remaining related to other causes including autoimmune disorders (The Neuropathy Association, 2008).
Peripheral Neuropathies may:
Come and go
Progress slowly over many years
Become severe and debilitating (The
Neuropathy Association, 2009)
Neuropathy may progress from numbness, tingling, abnormal sensations or pain in the feet. Some people feel like they have socks on, even though they are barefoot. Over time, this
feeling spreads to your legs and hands (The Neuropathy Association, 2009) It may become harder and harder to walk; the legs feel heavy. The individual may feel as though they have to drag themselves up the stairs. Next, it may be difficult to maintain balance because
the individual is not exactly sure where their feet are, causing stumbling and a risk for falls. To keep
balance, the gait may become widened and walking may become less rhythmic or fluid.
Radiculopathy and Neuropathy present very similarly with tingling, numbness and weakness.
General Differences:
Radiculopathy Radiating PainNeuropathy Debilitating
and Progressive
ReferencesAnswers.com (2008). Neurological disorder: Radiculopathy. Retrieved January 25, 2009 from http://www.answers.com/topic/radiculopathy
Aronowski, J. & Labiche, L. (2003). Perspectives on Reperfusion-induced Damage in Rodent Models of Experimental Focal Ischemia and Role of γ-Protein Kinase C. ILAR Journal. 44(2).
Back.com. (2009). Radiculopathy. Retrieved January 26, 2009 from: http://www.back.com/symptoms-radiculopathy.html
The Neuropathy Association. (2009). About peripheral neuropathy: signs and symptoms. Retrieved January 26, 2009 from: http://www.neuropathy.org
McCance, K., & Huether, S. (2006). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children. (5th ed.). St. Louis, MI: Elsevier Mosby.
Wikipedia (2009). Radiculopathy. Retrieved January 25, 2009 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiculopathy
Wikipedia (2009). Neuropathy. Retrieved January 25, 2009 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuropathy