top of page

Understanding Radiculopathy: How Chiropractic Care Can Provide Relief

Writer's picture: Dr. Matt McManusDr. Matt McManus

Updated: 5 days ago

Radiculopathy, sometimes called radiculitis, is a condition that causes pain. It’s related to nerve root pain, sciatica, or radicular pain. It’s caused by a pinched nerve, and there are several ways of treating it. One of the most effective natural treatments for radiculopathy is chiropractic care. It’s a hands-on approach that can help you avoid riskier, more invasive/permanent treatments. Here’s what you should know.


Looking for a Chiropractor Near Me in Calgary, AB? Associate Chiropractic Clinic and its 40 years of industry leading experience can help. Accepting New Patients 6 Days a Week!


Nerve pain caused by radiculopathy can be fixed with chiropractic adjustments and avoid surgery

How Does Radiculopathy Develop?

A pinched spinal nerve causes radiculopathy. It develops when a nerve root becomes irritated or compressed. When this happens, you feel pain, tingling, or numbness in the area. 


Mild cases of radiculopathy can resolve with posture improvements or over-the-counter pain medication if this is your preference. However, for more severe cases or if you prefer a medicine-free option, massage therapy and chiropractic treatment can help.


Types of Radiculopathy

There are three types of radiculopathy, including:

  • Cervical radiculopathy: Pain and discomfort in the neck area that sometimes radiates to your hands and arms.

  • Thoracic radiculopathy: Pain and discomfort in the chest area during inhalation and exhalation.

  • Lumbar radiculopathy: Lower back pain and numbness that sometimes radiates to your legs.


Anything that irritates or compresses the roots of the spinal nerves can cause radiculopathy. The most common triggers include: 


Common Symptoms

Symptoms of radiculopathy might vary depending on the type. However, they usually include some combination of the following:

  • Pain around the affected nerve

  • Numbness

  • Tingling

  • Muscle weakness


The Difference Between Radiculopathy and Neuropathy

Radiculopathy and neuropathy share some similarities but are not the same. 

Damaged nerves cause both. Both can trigger weakness, numbness, decreased motor skills, and range of motion. 


Radiculopathy can occur in the neck, shoulders, and low back and can be treated for pain relief by a chiropractic treatment.

In reality, radiculopathy is a type of neuropathy. It’s one type of nerve damage.


Determining whether you are affected by neuropathy or, specifically, radiculopathy is important because it affects treatment options and what symptoms you’ll experience. Additionally, if either of these conditions is due to an injury caused by someone else’s negligence, a specific diagnosis affects the compensation you might receive if you pursue legal action.


Most people see their primary care physician to receive a radiculopathy diagnosis. The diagnostic procedure includes the following:

  • X-ray: This identifies the narrowing and changing of the alignment of your spinal cord. In some cases, it might also show spinal fractures.

  • Computed tomography (CT) scan: This is a 3D image of your spine. It offers more details than a regular X-ray.

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This shows if damage to soft tissues is causing nerve compression. It also shows damage to the spinal cord.

  • Electromyography (EMG): This measures electrical impulses in the muscles. It helps the doctor determine if a nerve is working properly.


A chiropractor can treat you whether or not you have an official diagnosis of radiculopathy. No referral necessary.


There are several treatment options for radiculopathy that you must first discuss with your doctor, including:

  • Physical therapy

  • Ice or heat

  • Corticosteroids

  • Over-the-counter NSAID medications

  • Surgery


Although these treatments might correct the problem or mask the symptoms caused by the problems, they all have drawbacks. Some are invasive and come with various potential side effects and risks. Chiropractic treatments can help you avoid these risks.


How a Chiropractor Can Help

Seeking treatment from a chiropractor for radiculopathy is one of the safest and most effective options for treating the condition.


Chiropractor must do an assessment before treating a patient with possible radiculopathy to find the root cause

Standard chiropractic treatment adjusts the spine. The adjustment might have many facets, but one of the primary actions induces motion into the spine. Our chiropractors at Associate Chiropractic Clinic often use additional soft tissue techniques to treat the spasmed muscle to add additional pain relief that goes beyond the industry standard treatment.


When someone is dealing with radiculopathy, the chiropractor adjusts the area where the nerves are affected. When this problem with function or motion is corrected, the pain, numbness, tingling, and other symptoms decrease.


Essentially, chiropractic adjustments for radiculopathy removes blockages/irritation/pressures and allow the body to heal naturally. 


During your first appointment, the chiropractor will conduct tests to assess your symptoms. They’ll evaluate your pain and determine the exact location of your pain, as well as whether it’s radiating to other areas of your body. Once this evaluation is complete, they’ll design a customized treatment plan that includes various treatment tools. 


Chiropractic care is a holistic approach to treating radiculopathy. It not only helps your body correct the problem causing radiculopathy, but it also improves your overall health and well-being. In addition to the chiropractic treatment administered by the chiropractor, your treatment plan will include exercises you can do independently, dietary suggestions, and lifestyle recommendations.


During an adjustment, your chiropractor will find the trigger point causing the pain and apply gentle pressure or thrusting to that area. The goal is to realign the spinal nerves. After the treatment, you’ll likely feel relaxed, and there will be relief from the pressure and other symptoms of radiculopathy. Your brain and your nerves will have an open and free flow of communication. Over time, this improves radiculopathy symptoms and any other symptoms you might be experiencing. Although it might take several sessions (multiple times per week over several weeks) to resolve the problem completely and avoid surgery, many people experience pain relief after their first treatment.


You know how painful it can be if you've dealt with radiculopathy. You know that it interferes with your daily life and affects your quality of life. Finding a gentle, healing treatment is one of the best things you can do to improve your health. And because chiropractic care is holistic, your overall health is enhanced.


Chiropractor adjusting a patient to treat low back pain and radiculopathy due to a pinched nerve

Benefits of Treating Radiculopathy with Chiropractic Care

Treating radiculopathy with chiropractic care offers many benefits. For example, chiropractic care is:

  • Natural, safe, and effective

  • Offers tools you can use at home for additional relief and to help you maintain good health

  • Reduces or alleviates symptoms

  • Treats the whole body and can improve other health problems even if they aren’t directly targeted in treatment

  • Reduces reliance on opioid pain relievers

  • Affordable and might be covered by insurance

  • Corrects instead of masks symptoms

  • Offers long-term benefits by addressing the root of the problem


If you’re looking for a safe, natural, effective way to deal with radiculopathy, chiropractic care is an option.


Chiropractors deliver adjustments to the spine. The physical action of the adjustment is an induction of motion into the spinal joint. If you’ve never undergone chiropractic care before, you might be intimidated by what it entails or what others have heard or seen. It’s important not to limit your treatment options without understanding the situation and available options to treat radiculopathy. 


Radiculopathy is painful and, if severe enough, can be debilitating and interfere with your quality of life. Even mild cases can interfere with your ability to enjoy everyday pleasures. Working with an experienced chiropractor who can also provide information about additional treatment options and things you can do to heal your body is one of the best ways to manage and heal radiculopathy.


Looking for a Chiropractor Near Me to treat radiculopathy? Dr. Christine Martinovich and Dr. Matt McManus at Associate Chiropractic Clinic accept new patients 6 days a week!

Call: 403-230-9003 CONTACT US TODAY                              BOOK ONLINE

Comments


GENERAL INFORMATION

Associate Chiropractic Clinic

221 – 1110 Centre Street North

Calgary, Alberta 

T2E 2R2

Phone: 403-230-9003

Fax: 403-277-8162

Email: associatechiropractic@gmail.com

HOURS

Monday - Friday

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Saturday

8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

CHIROPRACTORS:

Dr. Murray McEwen – M/W/F 8:00 - 5:00

Dr. Matt McManus – Monday - Saturday

Dr. Christine Martinovich - Wed 9:00 - 1:00

                                                           -  Th/F 12:30 - 5:00

                                                           -   Sat 11:00 - 2:00

SERVICE AREA

  • Calgary

  • Airdrie

  • Okotoks

  • Surrounding Areas

SOCIAL

Disclaimer

This website is provided for information and education purposes only. No doctor/patient relationship is established by your use of this site. No diagnosis or treatment is being provided. The information contained here should be used in consultation with a medically licensed and trained professional of your choice. No guarantees or warranties are made regarding any of the information contained within this website. This website is not intended to offer specific medical or health advice to anyone. We do not make any medical claims as you should consult a healthcare professional prior to starting any treatment program. All information is only presented for educational purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the advice of a doctor or medical professional.

Created by

Yellow Pages for business
bottom of page