What is Radicular Pain

Radicular pain is a type of pain that spreads from your back or neck along a spinal nerve. Spinal nerves are nerves that leave the spinal cord and go to the muscles.

Radicular pain occurs when one of these nerves becomes irritated or squeezed (compressed). Radicular pain is sometimes called radiculopathy, radiculitis, or a pinched nerve.

When you have this type of pain, you may also have weakness, numbness, or tingling in the area of your body that is supplied by the nerve. The pain may feel sharp and burning.

Spinal nerves leave the spinal cord through openings between the 24 bones (vertebrae) that make up the spine. Radicular pain is often caused by something pushing on a spinal nerve.

This pushing may be done by a vertebra or by one of the round cushions between vertebrae (intervertebral disks). This can result from an injury, from wear and tear or aging of a disk, or from the growth of a bone spur that pushes on the nerve. Radicular pain can occur in various areas depending on which spinal nerve is affected:

• Cervical radicular pain occurs in the neck. You may also feel pain, numbness, weakness, or tingling in the arms.
• Thoracic radicular pain occurs in the mid-spine area. You would feel this pain in the back and chest. This type is rare.
• Lumbar radicular pain occurs in the lower back area. You would feel this pain as low back pain. You may feel pain, numbness, weakness, or tingling in the buttocks or legs. Sciatica is a type of lumbar radicular pain that shoots down the back of the leg.

Radicular pain often goes away when you follow instructions from your health care provider for relieving pain at home.

Follow these instructions at home:

Managing pain

• If directed, apply ice to the affected area:
  • Put ice in a plastic bag.
  • Place a towel between your skin and the bag.
  • Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.
• If directed, apply heat to the affected area as often as told by your health care provider. Use the heat source that your health care provider recommends, such as a moist heat pack or a heating pad.
  • Place a towel between your skin and the heat source.
  • Leave the heat on for 20–30 minutes.
  • Remove the heat if your skin turns bright red. This is especially important if you are unable to feel pain, heat, or cold. You may have a greater risk of getting burned.

Activity

• Do not sit or rest in bed for long periods of time.
• Try to stay as active as possible. Ask your health care provider what type of exercise or activity is best for you.
• Avoid activities that make your pain worse, such as bending and lifting.
• Do not lift anything that is heavier than 10 lb (4.5 kg). Practice using proper technique when lifting items. Proper lifting technique involves bending your knees and rising up.
• Do strength and range-of-motion exercises only as told by your health care provider.

General instructions

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Pay attention to any changes in your symptoms.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your pain and other symptoms get worse.
• Your pain medicine is not helping.
• Your pain has not improved after a few weeks of home care.
• You have a fever.

Get help right away if:

• You have severe pain, weakness, or numbness.
• You have difficulty with bladder or bowel control.