833-377-7325

Radiculopathy
Peak Spine & Sports Medicine treats cervical and lumbar radiculopathy with opioid-free spine care in Marlton and Collingswood, NJ. Call (833) 377-7325.

Radiculopathy in Marlton and Collingswood, NJ

Radiculopathy can make nerve pain feel sharp, burning, electric, or difficult to ignore. When a spinal nerve root becomes irritated or compressed, pain may travel from the neck into the shoulder, arm, or hand, or from the lower back into the buttock, hip, leg, or foot.

At Peak Spine & Sports Medicine, we assess whether radiculopathy is causing pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or radiating symptoms. Potential sources include herniated or bulging discs, spinal stenosis, foraminal narrowing, arthritis, bone spurs, degenerative disc disease, or other spine conditions. We conduct a thorough evaluation to correlate symptoms, imaging, exam findings, and daily limitations before recommending a treatment plan.

We provide opioid-free, interventional pain care with an emphasis on education, outcomes, and quality of life. Dr. Milind Patel, Dr. Jill Kalariya, Brian Brown, PA, and our interventional pain management team deliver care through a concierge model designed to ensure clarity, organization, and a personalized experience.

To schedule a radiculopathy consultation in Marlton or Collingswood, NJ, call Peak Spine & Sports Medicine at (833) 377-7325 or request an appointment online. Telehealth consultations are available when appropriate. We serve patients in Marlton, Haddonfield, Collingswood, Cherry Hill, Medford, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Voorhees, Philadelphia, and nearby communities.

Quick Links

What Is Radiculopathy?

Radiculopathy is a condition in which a spinal nerve root becomes irritated, inflamed, pinched, or compressed.

Nerve roots branch away from the spinal cord and travel through openings in the spine before extending into the arms, hands, buttocks, hips, legs, and feet. When one of these nerve roots is affected, symptoms may travel along its path. This is why radiculopathy often causes pain in an area away from the spine itself.

Radiculopathy may affect different parts of the spine.

  • Cervical radiculopathy occurs in the neck and may cause symptoms in the shoulder, arm, hand, or fingers.
  • Lumbar radiculopathy occurs in the lower back and may cause symptoms in the buttocks, hips, legs, feet, or toes.
  • Thoracic radiculopathy occurs in the mid-back and may cause pain that wraps around the chest, ribs, or abdomen, though this is less common.

Radiculopathy is sometimes described as a pinched nerve. That phrase can be helpful, but it does not explain the full picture. A nerve root may be compressed by a disc herniation, irritated by inflammation, narrowed by arthritis or bone spurs, or affected by several spine changes at once.

Radiculopathy can feel different depending on which nerve root is involved.

Some patients feel sharp, shooting pain. Others feel burning, tingling, numbness, weakness, or electric sensations. Symptoms may travel down one arm or leg, follow a specific pathway, or worsen with certain spine positions.

Symptoms may include:

  • Neck pain
  • Low back pain
  • Pain that travels into the shoulder, arm, hand, or fingers
  • Pain that travels into the buttocks, hip, leg, foot, or toes
  • Sciatica
  • Burning nerve pain
  • Sharp or shooting pain
  • Electric shock-like pain
  • Numbness or tingling
  • Pins and needles sensations
  • Muscle weakness
  • Grip changes
  • Foot weakness or foot drop in severe cases
  • Pain that worsens with standing or walking
  • Difficulty working, driving, exercising, traveling, or completing daily routines
  • Pain that worsens with sitting, bending, coughing, or sneezing
  • Difficulty sleeping

Some symptoms need prompt medical attention, including loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness in the groin or saddle area, severe or progressive weakness, difficulty walking, worsening balance, fever with severe spine pain, or symptoms after major trauma.

Radiculopathy develops when a spinal nerve root becomes irritated or compressed.

This can happen gradually over time or suddenly after an injury, disc herniation, or flare of inflammation. In many patients, radiculopathy is related to wear-related spine changes that narrow the space around a nerve root.

Common causes may include:

  • Herniated disc
  • Bulging disc
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Foraminal stenosis
  • Bone spurs
  • Facet joint arthritis
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Thickened ligaments
  • Prior spine surgery
  • Scar tissue in selected cases
  • Trauma or injury
  • Inflammation around a nerve root

Radiculopathy can also overlap with other conditions. A patient may have nerve root pain along with facet joint pain, SI joint dysfunction, diabetic neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy, hip arthritis, knee pain, or myofascial pain. The treatment plan should be based on the full pain pattern rather than the MRI report alone.

Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve root in the neck becomes irritated or compressed.

This may cause neck pain that travels into the shoulder, shoulder blade, arm, elbow, wrist, hand, or fingers. Some patients feel numbness, tingling, weakness, burning, or changes in grip strength. Symptoms may worsen with turning the head, looking down, working at a computer, driving, sleeping in certain positions, or lifting.

Cervical radiculopathy may be related to:

  • Cervical herniated disc
  • Cervical degenerative disc disease
  • Cervical foraminal stenosis
  • Bone spurs
  • Facet arthritis
  • Disc height loss
  • Inflammation around a cervical nerve root

Patients with progressive arm weakness, worsening hand clumsiness, balance problems, or changes in coordination should be evaluated promptly, as these symptoms may suggest a more serious spinal cord or nerve issue.

Lumbar radiculopathy happens when a nerve root in the lower back becomes irritated or compressed.

This may cause low back pain that travels into the buttock, hip, thigh, calf, foot, or toes. Many patients describe sciatica, which is a common pattern of lumbar radiculopathy. The pain may feel sharp, burning, electric, or shooting.

Lumbar radiculopathy may be related to:

  • Lumbar herniated disc
  • Bulging disc
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Lumbar spinal stenosis
  • Foraminal stenosis
  • Bone spurs
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Inflammation around a lumbar nerve root

Symptoms may worsen with sitting, bending, lifting, coughing, sneezing, standing, walking, or certain positions. Some patients feel better when lying down or changing position, while others have persistent leg symptoms that interfere with daily life.

Thoracic radiculopathy occurs when a nerve root in the mid-back becomes irritated or compressed.

This is less common than cervical or lumbar radiculopathy. Symptoms may include pain that wraps around the ribs, chest, upper abdomen, or side of the torso. Some patients describe burning, tingling, or band-like pain.

Because chest, rib, or abdominal pain can come from many sources, thoracic radiculopathy should be evaluated carefully. Medical issues involving the heart, lungs, abdomen, shingles, or other conditions may need to be ruled out depending on symptoms.

Diagnosis begins with a careful conversation and physical exam.

The Peak Spine & Sports Medicine team asks where symptoms started, where pain travels, what the pain feels like, what makes it worse, what improves it, what treatments have already been tried, and what daily activities are being limited.

The exam may include checking:

  • Strength
  • Sensation
  • Reflexes
  • Spine movement
  • Pain with certain positions
  • Walking pattern
  • Balance
  • Grip strength when arm symptoms are present
  • Signs of nerve irritation

Imaging may be recommended when appropriate. MRI can help show disc herniations, spinal stenosis, foraminal narrowing, nerve root irritation, arthritis, and other soft-tissue or structural issues. X-rays may show alignment, arthritis, instability, or disc space narrowing. CT scans may be used in selected cases.

Nerve testing may be reviewed or recommended when symptoms suggest neuropathy, nerve injury, or a more complex pattern.

The key is connecting symptoms with exam and imaging. A scan may show more than one abnormality, but treatment should focus on the nerve root or structure most likely driving the current symptoms.

Why Choose Peak Spine & Sports Medicine for Radiculopathy?

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine is founded on the principle of providing the level of care we would expect for our own family members.

Initial consultations are designed to be thorough, personal, and highly focused. The team takes time to understand where symptoms occur, how they affect daily life, what has already been tried, and which activities the patient wants to return to. After a thorough evaluation, our team can develop a customized plan rather than a cookie-cutter treatment to address the pain directly with a focalized solution for focal problems.

For one patient, the priority may be sitting through work without leg pain. For another, it may be sleeping without arm numbness, walking farther, driving comfortably, exercising, golfing, traveling, lifting a child or grandchild, or getting through the day without sharp nerve pain.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine offers:

  • Concierge, white-glove pain management care
  • A non-opioid approach to pain care
  • Ivy League-trained professionals
  • Double board-certified pain management physicians
  • Cutting-edge interventional techniques and technology
  • Advanced spine and nerve pain evaluation
  • Image-guided spine procedures
  • Epidural Steroid Injection evaluation when nerve inflammation is involved
  • Nerve Root / Selective Nerve Block evaluation when a specific nerve root is suspected
  • Disc Decompression evaluation for selected contained disc herniations
  • Spinal Cord Stimulation evaluation for selected chronic nerve pain patterns
  • Telehealth consults when appropriate
  • A helpful staff that works to reduce the burden on patients
  • Insurance access for eligible PPO/POS patients with out-of-network benefits

Care is led by Dr. Milind Patel and Dr. Jill Kalariya, double board-certified pain management physicians who perform advanced interventional procedures in the outpatient surgery center. Brian Brown, PA supports patients through conservative care, diagnostic workups, imaging coordination, therapy recommendations, and follow-up planning, helping each patient navigate care with clarity.

Radiculopathy care requires careful diagnosis and practical planning. At Peak Spine & Sports Medicine, the team evaluates the full pain pattern, imaging findings, neurologic symptoms, movement limits, prior treatments, overlapping diagnoses, and patient goals before recommending injections, nerve blocks, disc procedures, neuromodulation evaluation, therapy referral, surgical referral, or another treatment option.

Our practice is selective with insurance to prioritize quality over volume. This approach allows our team to dedicate more time to listening, explaining, and coordinating care for each patient, rather than adhering to insurance company schedules.

Visit our Why Choose Us page to learn more.

How Is Radiculopathy Treated?

Treatment depends on where the irritated nerve root is located, what is causing the irritation, how severe the symptoms are, whether weakness is present, and how much daily life is affected.

Some patients improve with conservative care, time, activity modification, physical therapy referral, posture changes, strengthening, and non-opioid medication coordination when appropriate. Others may need image-guided procedures when pain continues or nerve irritation limits function.

Treatment options may include:

  • Physical therapy referral
  • Activity modification
  • Home exercise guidance
  • Medication coordination without opioids when appropriate
  • Epidural Steroid Injections
  • Nerve Root / Selective Nerve Blocks
  • Disc Decompression in selected cases
  • MILD Procedure when lumbar spinal stenosis is involved
  • Facet Joint Injections when facet pain is also involved
  • Medial Branch Blocks
  • Radiofrequency Ablation
  • Trigger Point Injections when muscle guarding contributes to pain
  • Spinal Cord Stimulation in selected chronic nerve pain cases
  • Peripheral Nerve Stimulation when a localized nerve target is identified
  • Surgical evaluation when symptoms, imaging, or neurologic findings suggest it is needed

The treatment plan should match the source of the nerve irritation. A patient with lumbar radiculopathy from a contained disc herniation may need a different approach than someone with cervical foraminal stenosis, lumbar spinal stenosis, post-surgical nerve pain, or overlapping diabetic neuropathy.

Epidural Steroid Injections for Radiculopathy

Epidural Steroid Injections may be considered when radiculopathy appears related to inflammation around a spinal nerve root.

During an epidural steroid injection, anti-inflammatory medication is placed near the irritated nerve pathway using imaging guidance. This may help reduce radiating arm or leg pain and make movement, sleep, therapy, work, or daily activities more manageable.

Epidural steroid injections may be considered for:

  • Cervical radiculopathy
  • Lumbar radiculopathy
  • Sciatica
  • Disc-related nerve irritation
  • Spinal stenosis-related nerve inflammation
  • Pain that travels into the arm or leg

For some patients, the injection helps reduce symptoms enough to participate more comfortably in therapy and strengthening. For others, the response helps clarify the extent to which nerve inflammation contributes to the pain pattern.

Nerve Root / Selective Nerve Blocks for Radiculopathy

Nerve Root / Selective Nerve Blocks may be used when symptoms suggest that a specific spinal nerve root is involved.

The injection is placed near the suspected nerve root with imaging guidance. This may provide temporary relief and useful diagnostic information.

Selective nerve root blocks may be especially helpful when imaging shows more than one possible level of concern. If a patient has symptoms that could be caused by more than one nerve root, a targeted block may help identify which nerve is driving the pain.

These blocks may be considered for cervical or lumbar radiculopathy when pain follows a defined arm or leg pathway.

Disc Decompression for Radiculopathy from a Contained Herniated Disc

Disc Decompression may be considered when radiculopathy is related to a selected contained herniated disc.

Percutaneous Disc Decompression is designed to remove or reduce a small amount of disc material through a minimally invasive approach. In carefully selected patients, reducing disc pressure may help reduce irritation of a nearby nerve.

This option may be discussed when symptoms match imaging findings and conservative care or injections have not provided enough relief.

Disc decompression is not appropriate for every case of radiculopathy. Large, extruded disc fragments, severe stenosis, progressive weakness, instability, or other structural concerns may require a different evaluation.

Facet Joint Injections, Medial Branch Blocks, and Radiofrequency Ablation

Some patients with radiculopathy also have facet-related spine pain.

Facet joints are small joints in the back of the spine. They may become painful because of arthritis, degeneration, altered mechanics, or inflammation. Facet pain usually feels more central in the back or neck and may worsen with standing, twisting, or bending backward.

Facet Joint Injections may help calm inflammation in the joint. Medial Branch Blocks can help determine whether the small nerves carrying pain signals from the facet joints are involved. If medial branch blocks provide strong but temporary relief, Radiofrequency Ablation may be considered for longer-lasting improvement.

These treatments do not directly treat a compressed nerve root, but they may help when facet pain is part of the larger spine pain pattern.

Trigger Point Injections for Muscle Guarding

Radiculopathy can lead to muscle guarding.

When nerve pain causes the spine or surrounding muscles to tighten, patients may develop knots, spasms, stiffness, aching, or pain that worsens with posture and movement. Over time, this muscle pain can become part of the overall pain pattern.

Trigger Point Injections may help calm painful muscle areas and allow patients to move, stretch, strengthen, or participate in therapy more comfortably.

They may be considered when muscle guarding is contributing to pain alongside radiculopathy.

Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Radiculopathy Pain

Spinal Cord Stimulation may be considered for selected patients with chronic nerve-related pain that has not improved enough with conservative care, injections, procedures, or prior surgery.

Spinal Cord Stimulation uses a device that is implanted to send controlled electrical impulses near the spinal cord. These signals can change how pain signals are processed before they reach the brain.

This option may be considered for persistent arm or leg nerve pain, failed back surgery syndrome, chronic radicular pain, or other complex neuropathic pain patterns. It usually begins with a temporary trial before a permanent implant is discussed.

At Peak Spine & Sports Medicine, Spinal Cord Stimulation is recommended only after careful evaluation of the diagnosis, imaging, prior treatments, functional goals, and readiness for an implantable therapy.

When Is Surgery Needed for Radiculopathy?

Many patients with radiculopathy can begin with non-surgical care.

Surgical evaluation may be appropriate when pain remains severe despite appropriate treatment, when imaging shows a structural problem that is unlikely to respond to interventional care, or when neurologic symptoms are worsening.

Prompt evaluation may be needed for:

  • Progressive weakness
  • Foot drop
  • Worsening balance problems
  • Hand clumsiness
  • Difficulty walking
  • Loss of bowel or bladder control
  • Saddle numbness
  • Fever with severe spine pain
  • Symptoms after major trauma
  • Severe pain that is rapidly worsening

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine helps patients understand when interventional pain care is reasonable and when a spine surgeon should be involved.

Radiculopathy can improve as inflammation resolves and the nerve becomes less irritated.

Some patients improve with time, activity changes, therapy, and non-opioid care. Others need injections or procedures to help reduce inflammation, identify the involved nerve root, or address the structure causing irritation.

Recovery depends on the cause of radiculopathy, the severity of nerve irritation, the duration of symptoms, the presence of weakness, overall health, and how well symptoms respond to treatment.

For many patients, progress is measured by function: sitting longer, walking farther, sleeping better, driving with less pain, returning to exercise, working more comfortably, or reducing severe radiating symptoms.

The cost of radiculopathy treatment depends on the evaluation, imaging or diagnostic needs, procedure recommended, facility, insurance benefits, and medical necessity requirements.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine primarily serves patients with PPO or POS insurance plans that offer out-of-network benefits. Operating out-of-network for most plans enables us to provide a more personalized model with longer visits, tailored treatment plans, and comprehensive education, without the pressure to rush care.

Many patients find that out-of-network care with PPO or POS plan benefits is more accessible than expected. Our team can review your benefits, explain the process, and help determine if our practice is the right fit.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine does not participate with EPO, HMO, Medicare, or Medicaid plans. This enables our office to accommodate new and existing patients promptly.

Patients visit Peak Spine & Sports Medicine in Marlton and Collingswood from Cherry Hill, Medford, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Voorhees, Philadelphia, and surrounding areas because they want high-level interventional spine and nerve pain care without an opioid-first approach.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine does not use opioids as a shortcut for pain care.

Radiculopathy often involves a specific irritated nerve root, disc problem, narrowing around a nerve, inflammation, or overlapping spine condition. Long-term opioid reliance can make care more complicated without addressing the nerve pathway or structural issue that may be driving symptoms.

Our practice focuses on education, interventional procedures when appropriate, and careful evaluation of focal pain generators. For the right patient, radiculopathy care may include therapy coordination, non-opioid medication coordination, epidural steroid injections, selective nerve root blocks, disc procedures, radiofrequency ablation when overlapping facet pain is involved, or neuromodulation evaluation for chronic nerve pain.

The purpose is to help patients move better, sleep better, reduce severe radiating pain when possible, and return to daily life with more clarity and support.

Schedule a Radiculopathy Consultation in Marlton or Collingswood, NJ

For radiculopathy care in Marlton and Collingswood, NJ, contact Peak Spine & Sports Medicine at (833) 377-7325 or schedule a consultation online today. Our team will help determine whether the pain pattern, goals, and insurance benefits make our concierge interventional pain model the right fit.

We proudly serve patients in Marlton, Haddonfield, Collingswood, Cherry Hill, Medford, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Voorhees, Philadelphia, and surrounding communities.

Meet Our Providers
Request an Appointment

Radiculopathy Marlton, NJ – FAQs

Radiculopathy is often described as a pinched nerve. More specifically, it involves irritation or compression of a nerve root as it exits the spine.

Radiculopathy may feel like sharp, shooting, burning, electric, tingling, or numb pain. Symptoms often travel from the neck into the arm or from the lower back into the buttock, hip, leg, or foot.

Radiculopathy may be caused by a herniated disc, bulging disc, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, foraminal narrowing, bone spurs, facet arthritis, spondylolisthesis, inflammation, or prior spine surgery.

Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve root in the neck becomes irritated or compressed. It may cause neck pain, shoulder pain, arm pain, hand symptoms, numbness, tingling, or weakness.

Lumbar radiculopathy occurs when a nerve root in the lower back becomes irritated or compressed. It may cause low back pain, buttock pain, hip pain, leg pain, foot symptoms, numbness, tingling, or weakness.

Sciatica is often a symptom pattern of lumbar radiculopathy. It usually describes pain that travels from the lower back or buttock into the leg along the sciatic nerve pathway.

No. Radiculopathy begins at a spinal nerve root. Peripheral neuropathy affects nerves outside the spine and may involve both feet, both hands, or a more diffuse pattern. Some patients have both.

No. Radiculopathy starts at a spinal nerve root and often travels into one arm or leg. Peripheral neuropathy affects nerves outside the spine and may cause more widespread symptoms, such as burning, tingling, or numbness in both feet or both hands.

Diagnosis usually includes a symptom review, physical exam, neurologic testing, imaging when appropriate, and review of prior treatments. MRI may help identify disc herniation, stenosis, foraminal narrowing, or nerve root irritation.

Epidural steroid injections may help select patients when radiculopathy is related to inflammation around a spinal nerve root. They may reduce radiating arm or leg pain and improve function.

Yes. Nerve Root / Selective Nerve Blocks may help when symptoms suggest a specific spinal nerve root is involved. They may provide relief and useful diagnostic information.

Disc Decompression may be considered when radiculopathy is related to a selected contained herniated disc and symptoms match imaging findings.

The MILD Procedure may help selected patients when lumbar spinal stenosis contributes to nerve compression and neurogenic claudication. Candidacy depends on symptoms, imaging, medical history, and goals.

Spinal Cord Stimulation may be considered for selected chronic nerve pain patterns when conservative care, injections, procedures, or prior surgery have not provided enough relief. A temporary trial is usually performed first.

No. Many patients improve without surgery. Surgical evaluation may be needed when symptoms are severe, persistent, or associated with worsening neurologic findings.

Urgent medical care may be needed for loss of bowel or bladder control, saddle numbness, progressive weakness, foot drop, difficulty walking, worsening balance, fever with severe spine pain, or symptoms after major trauma.

Some patients benefit from physical therapy or strengthening after pain is better controlled. Peak Spine & Sports Medicine does not provide in-house physical therapy, but the team may refer patients to outside providers when mobility, posture, strength, or functional restoration is part of the plan.

In many cases, yes. Telehealth consults may be available to review symptoms, discuss prior imaging or treatments, and determine whether an in-person exam or procedure consultation is appropriate.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine accepts insurance and primarily works with PPO and POS plans that have out-of-network benefits. The practice does not participate with EPO, HMO, Medicare, or Medicaid plans. The team can help determine whether benefits may apply.