Radicular pain, or radiating pain, is created by obstruction or pinching of the spinal nerves. This results in pain, tingling, or numbness in parts of your body far from the actual origin of the problem.
If your spine is damaged during a motor vehicle accident, there are a variety of things that can affect the nerves.
Injured ligaments and muscles can cause swelling of the nerve root, which can alter the performance of the nerve. If a spinal disk is stressed, it can cause the disk to bulge or herniate, compressing the nerve. And if the spinal joints begin to calcify, it can trigger spinal stenosis, or a narrowing of the channel that the spinal nerves travel through.
The key to addressing radicular pain is to isolate the precise source of the problem causing the compression and then work to lessen the stress on the nerve.
If you've been in an auto collision and have signs of radicular pain, Dr. Ernst is here to help. We can help identify the root source of your pain and formulate a plan of action to help you reclaim your health. We've helped many people in Arlington, WA heal from these types of problems.
Call our Arlington, WA office today at (360) 659-8464 for a consultation or for more advice.