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Pinched Nerve
Pinched Nerve
A pinched nerve (Radiculopathy) is a nerve that has become constricted by surrounding tissue. This nerve compression can disrupt regular function and cause pain, numbness, weakness or a ‘pins and needles’ sensation, beginning in the affected area and radiating outward to the extremities.
Because Radiculopathy is progressive, the longer it remains untreated, the more serious symptoms will become. Later stage pinched nerves can result in increased radiating pain, impaired reflexes and loss of motor function.
Depending on where the pinched nerve is along the spine, the associated pain, numbness or weakness can extend out into the shoulders, arms, hips, buttocks or legs.
Radiculopathy at a glance
Your spine is made up of 24 cervical, thoracic or lumbar vertebrae that, together, protect the spinal cord and nerves. These vertebrae are connected by ligaments and both separated and protected by discs that act as cushions around the spinal cord and between the bones. Due to injury and age, these discs can dry out, bulge or leak. These conditions, known medically as Degenerative Disc Disease or Herniated Discs increase the pressure to the spinal nerves and may cause the vertebrae to develop bone spurs.
These bone spurs stiffen the spine and may lead to a narrowing of the foramen, the space around the nerve root. This narrowing adds even more pressure to spinal nerves.
Wear and tear over time or Osteoarthritis can also increase symptoms associated with Radiculopathy. If noticed early, Radiculopathy can often be addressed using conservative treatments including pain medication and physical therapy. However, as this condition is progressive, and eventually these treatments will no longer be effective in relieving the pain.
Treating Radiculopathy to relieve pinched nerve pain
Your initial visit with Dr. Skaliy will include a physical examination as well as a discussion of your medical history and current symptoms. The purpose of the physical examination is to check for related pinched nerve symptoms including pain, muscle weakness, numbness or reflex issues. An additional medical imaging test — X-ray, MRI or CT scan — may also be necessary.
If anti-inflammatory drugs and physical therapy do not reduce your pinched nerve symptoms, Dr. Skaliy may suggest an Epidural Steroid Injection. This process involves injecting a combination of anti-inflammatory medication and anesthetic into the Facet Joint.
If more conservative pain-relief treatments fail, Dr. Skaliy may recommend a Endoscopic Discectomy to relieve your pinched nerve pain. In this procedure, the physician relieves back pain by removing any material that may be pressing on the nerve root or spinal cord.
In recent years, Stem Cell Therapy has also proven successful as a minimally-invasive, non-surgical option for treating pinched nerves in the spine.
A Better Minimally-Invasive Treatments For Sciatica
Stem Cell Therapy has been used to treat at least 65 different medical issues, including chronic pain in the back, neck and joints. WIth physicians reporting up to 90 percent success rates, stem cell treatment has proven to be very effective in reducing and eliminating pain. Plus, since it comes with none of the potential side-effects of surgery, Stem Cell Therapy is also very safe…
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The Effectiveness of Stem Cells in Treating Pain
Regenerative medicine is a new area of medicine that uses stem cells to regenerate tissue and “turn the clock back” to a more active and fulfilling life. We specialize in orthopedic regenerative medicine which has a long history of success scientific studies show the benefit and success of stem cell therapy for joints and back. We practice the safest and most advanced techniques to bring relief to or patients. Our success rate is very high.
Adult stem cells possess several different qualities which allow them to be effective in the treatment of damaged joints. When used to treat pain caused by damaged joints, stem cells:
● Differentiate between and grow into bone, cartilage, tendons, and ligament cells
● Offer anti-inflammatory effects, which reduces further injury
● Recruit other cells necessary to increase cell growth in joints
● Inhibit cell death (apoptosis)
● Enrich blood supply, leading to more healthy tissue regeneration
Specifically, adipose stem cells are effective in treating Osteoarthritis; and bone marrow stem cells have beneficial in Rotator Cuff repair, treating Avascular Necrosis (AVN) in the hip, and assisting with bone union.
The success of these attributes depends on several different factors including disease severity, the type of stem cell used, the procedure chosen, and other factors specific to the patient. But, overall, up to 90 percent of our patients who elect stem cell therapy experience significant, long-term pain relief.