Nerve root inflammation

Definiton

A nerve root inflammation, also called radiculopathy, radiculitis or root neuritis, describes the damage and irritation of a nerve root at the spine. A pair of nerve roots emerges between each vertebra: One pair each on the left and right. The nerve root can be damaged at this exit point.

This can be an acute or chronic event. Inflammation of the nerve root often occurs in the cervical and lumbar spine area. Causes can be of orthopedic or infectiological nature.

Causes

There are different possibilities as a cause for nerve root inflammation. One lies in the degenerative changes of the bones and especially the vertebral bodies. When the bony tissue and cartilage is worn and destroyed, the nerve root is irritated by friction.

In addition, due to wear and tear, an inflammatory process takes place in the spine. This inflammation also affects the surrounding structures, such as the nerve roots. Another possibility is a slipped disc, which leads to acute or chronic inflammation due to pressure on the nerve root.

Also, spatial demands in and around the spine should be considered, such as bruises (hematomas) or tumors. Another group of triggering causes are infectious diseases. The most important of these is borreliosis (an infection transmitted by ticks), which can cause inflammation of the nerve roots and cranial nerves. The reactivation of the chickenpox virus (varicella zoster virus) in shingles can also be a trigger.

Symptoms

The therapy of nerve root inflammation is strongly dependent on its cause. If the cause is an infection (Borrelia or herpes), it is important that an adequate therapy with antibiotics or virustatics is carried out to kill the pathogens and prevent the progression of the inflammation. In the case of herpes inflammation, additional therapy with painkillers and also neuroleptics may be indicated to prevent chronic pain.

If a hematoma (bruise) or tumor is the cause of the nerve root inflammation, the therapy is to remove it surgically if possible and necessary. If surgery is not possible, an attempt should be made to relieve the symptoms with conservative means (physiotherapy, manual therapy, painkillers). In the case of a herniated disc, the type and severity of the complaints or the incident determines whether surgery will be performed.

If surgery is not indicated, physiotherapy and painkillers are used to treat the nerve root inflammation. As a general rule, it is important that the person affected receives an adequate supply of painkillers. For example, drugs from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, diclofenac or Voltaren) alleviate the pain and also act against the inflammation.

It is also possible to infiltrate the affected nerve root epidurally. This means that cortisone and/or local anaesthetics (lidocaine) are injected locally into the inflamed nerve root. However, this is not possible for every patient and also involves risks that should not be underestimated. Whether infiltration is appropriate must be discussed individually with the treating physician.