What Is Radicular Pain
Radicular pain, or radiculitis, is pain that “radiates” along a dermatome (sensory distribution) of a nerve due to inflammation or other irritation of the nerve root (radiculopathy) at its connection to the spinal column. A common form of radiculitis is sciatica – radicular pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve from the lower spine to the lower back, gluteal muscles, back of the upper thigh, calf, and foot as often secondary to nerve root irritation from a spinal disc herniation or from osteophytes in the lumbar region of the spine. The sensation may include numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, or burning/pulling/shocking pain in an arm or a leg, but there may be multiple spots throughout the nervous system where the nerve can be pinched or compressed.
Radicular Pain Treatment