Duration
Nerve root compression is a potentially serious disease, the course of which is difficult to predict in many cases. Even though surgical therapy is not necessary for the majority of patients, complaints and other restrictions in everyday life often extend over several months. In order to keep the duration of the illness itself and the duration of incapacity to work as short as possible, it is particularly important to strictly adhere to the therapy schedule. Regular exercise, an upright and gentle posture, as well as avoiding lifting heavy loads are indispensable points here. They also ensure the best possible protection against relapse and any surgical intervention that may be necessary.
Nerve root compression of the lumbar spine
As in the rest of the body, there are so-called dermatomes in the area of the upper extremities – areas of skin which can be clearly separated from each other and are supplied by only one pair of spinal nerves. This is useful in the diagnosis of nerve root compression of the cervical spine (cervical spine). Depending on the level of the cervical spine at which damage has occurred, the characteristic symptoms of this disease can be identified in the various dermatomes of the neck, shoulder and arms.
For example, a herniated disc at the level of C7, i.e. above the 7th cervical vertebra, leads to sensory disturbances in the area of the middle and index finger, the back of the hand, and the back of the upper and lower arm. These include above all numbness, tingling and temperature sensation disorders. More serious damage to the nerve root, for example due to compression that has already existed for some time, also leads to motor failure symptoms of certain muscle groups of the arms and shoulders.
