The spinal nerves emanate from the spinal cord, totaling 31 pairs, including 8 pairs of cervical nerves, 12 pairs of thoracic nerves, 5 pairs of lumbar nerves, 5 pairs of sacral nerves, and 1 pair of coccygeal nerves. The upper seven pairs of cervical nerves pass through the intervertebral foramen above the corresponding vertebrae to exit the vertebral canal. The eighth pair of cervical nerves passes through the intervertebral foramen between the seventh cervical vertebra and the first thoracic vertebra to exit the vertebral canal. The thoracic and lumbar nerves pass through the intervertebral foramen below the corresponding vertebrae in sequence. The upper four pairs of sacral nerves pass through the anterior and posterior foramina of the sacrum. The fourth sacral nerve and the coccygeal nerve exit the sacral canal through the sacral hiatus. Each pair of spinal nerves is formed by the anterior and posterior roots merging within the intervertebral foramen. The anterior root of the spinal nerve is motor, containing not only somatic motor fibers but also sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers from the first thoracic segment to the third lumbar segment, as well as from the second to the fourth sacral segments. The posterior root of the spinal nerve is sensory, containing somatic sensory fibers and visceral sensory fibers from the first to the third thoracic segments, as well as from the second to the fourth sacral segments. Since each spinal nerve is composed of both anterior and posterior roots, it contains both motor and sensory fibers, making the spinal nerves mixed nerves. After exiting the intervertebral foramen, the spinal nerves divide into anterior and posterior branches, each of which is also mixed. Radiculitis of the spinal nerve refers to a general term for inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the spinal nerve roots caused by various reasons. The lesion can affect the roots of any segment of the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, or sacral nerves. Clinically, the cervical and thoracic nerve roots and the lumbar and sacral nerve roots are most commonly affected, causing shoulder and back pain, as well as lumbar and leg pain.
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Radiculitis of the spinal nerve
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1. What are the causes of the onset of radicular neuritis?
2. What complications can radicular neuritis easily lead to?
3. What are the typical symptoms of radicular neuritis?
4. How to prevent radicular neuritis?
5. What laboratory tests are needed for radicular neuritis?
6. Dietary taboos for patients with radicular neuritis
7. The conventional methods of Western medicine for the treatment of radicular neuritis
1. What are the causes of the onset of radicular neuritis?
The causes of radicular neuritis are numerous, and the causes of intramural and extramural radicular neuritis are not the same. Intramural radicular neuritis is often caused by infection, poisoning, nutritional and metabolic disorders, etc.; extramural radicular neuritis is often caused by local cooling, dampness (causing spasm of the vascular supply of the nerve, ischemia, edema), muscle and transverse process trauma and inflammation, etc. The lesions of intramural radicular neuritis are often extensive and mostly bilateral; the lesions of the extramural segment are often localized and mostly unilateral.
2. What complications can radicular neuritis easily lead to?
When the sacral nerve root is severely damaged, there may also be urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction. To keep the respiratory tract unobstructed and prevent pulmonary infection, patients should be turned and changed positions regularly, assisted in expectoration, and tracheotomy may be performed if necessary, such as in cases of incomplete respiratory function. Auxiliary respiration can be considered to avoid the risk of respiratory failure threatening the patient's life. Pay attention to keeping warm and, if necessary, antibiotics should be administered. If there is a need for limb mobility, active prevention of bedsores should be taken, mainly by avoiding local pressure, promoting local blood circulation, and strengthening wound treatment.
3. What are the typical symptoms of radicular neuritis?
The onset of cervical-thoracic radicular neuritis is mostly acute and subacute, often manifested as pain, numbness, and weakness in one or both shoulder and arm regions, with pain often radiating along the distal lateral or medial side of the upper limb, exacerbating during coughing, straining, and defecation. These symptoms are often more pronounced after exposure to cold or fatigue, and they are alleviated after warmth and rest. Examination may reveal hyperesthesia (early stage), hypoesthesia, or disappearance (late stage) in the region innervated by the affected nerve root; the reflexes of the biceps brachii and triceps brachii tendons are weakened or disappeared; the upper limb muscles may have mild atrophy; there may be tenderness on the corresponding cervical and thoracic vertebrae. In addition, there may be changes in skin temperature and color, as well as disorders of nutrition and sweat gland secretion, etc., which are symptoms of vegetative nervous system. In the acute stage of intramural radicular neuritis, there may be a slight increase in cerebrospinal fluid protein and cells.
4. How to prevent radicular neuritis?
The prevention of radicular neuritis requires active treatment of various diseases that cause the disease. Good living habits should be cultivated. Patients with suspected symptoms of neuritis should undergo active examinations, and clear diagnoses should be made to achieve early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment, thereby minimizing the complications of the patient's nervous system and musculoskeletal system to the greatest extent possible, improving the prognosis of the patient, and improving the quality of life of the patient.
5. What laboratory tests are needed for radicular neuritis?
Radiculitis of the spinal nerves refers to the general term for inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the spinal nerve roots caused by various reasons, which can affect the roots of any segment of the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, or sacral spinal nerves. Clinically, the cervical and thoracic nerve roots and lumbar sacral nerve roots are most commonly affected, causing shoulder and back pain as well as lumbar and leg pain. So, what kind of laboratory tests do patients with radiculitis of the spinal nerves need to undergo? The following experts introduce the laboratory tests that patients with radiculitis of the spinal nerves need to undergo.
1. Laboratory tests are of auxiliary significance for clinical diagnosis. The cerebrospinal fluid may show slight increase in lymphocytes.
2. Evoked potentials. The muscles within the damaged area may show denervation electromyographic changes, and the conduction velocity of motor and sensory nerves in the peripheral nerves may slow down. The latency of sensory nerve evoked potentials is prolonged.
3. Head CT and magnetic resonance imaging.
6. Dietary taboos for patients with radiculitis of the spinal nerves
Patients with radiculitis of the spinal nerves should avoid spicy and刺激性 foods such as scallions, garlic, ginger, Sichuan pepper, chili, cinnamon, etc. Avoid greasy foods. Abstain from smoking and drinking. Patients with radiculitis of the spinal nerves are recommended to eat therapeutic foods or drugs with the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, and reducing swelling, such as double flowers, dandelion, Scutellaria baicalensis, Astragalus membranaceus, Angelica sinensis, Coix seed, asparagus, lotus root, lotus root, hawthorn, etc.
7. Conventional methods of Western medicine for the treatment of radiculitis of the spinal nerves
Spinal nerves originate from the spinal cord, totaling 31 pairs. Radiculitis of the spinal nerves refers to the general term for inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the spinal nerve roots caused by various reasons, which can affect the roots of any segment of the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, or sacral spinal nerves. Patients with this disease need active treatment. The treatment of radiculitis of the spinal nerves mainly lies in eliminating the cause, improving the nutritional metabolism of the nerves, and promoting the recovery of nerve function.
1. Treatment of the cause: control various infections and diabetes, etc.
2. Medication: Prednisone 30 mg or dexamethasone 1.5 mg, once a day. The duration of treatment varies depending on the condition, usually 3-4 weeks per course. At the same time, use B vitamins, coenzyme Q10, citicoline, and other drugs to promote nerve repair and improve function. You can also use drugs such as dipyridamole, galantamine, potassium iodide, etc., to improve circulation and promote the absorption of inflammation. For those with significant pain, you can use medications such as carbamazepine or phenytoin sodium.
3. Physical therapy, local hot compresses, massage, and other methods have certain therapeutic effects.
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