Radiculopathy vs. Neurogenic Claudication

[babinski2020]

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What is the difference? Is there one? Claudication = butt/leg pain caused by walking, is this not also a component of radicular pain?

 

[DubVille]

What is the difference? Is there one? Claudication = butt/leg pain caused by walking, is this not also a component of radicular pain?

Neurogenic claudication should only come on with walking, Prolonged standing, or prolonged extension at the waist (going down steps). The symptoms can be variable including sensation of heaviness, burning/tingling pain, or even cramping in the legs or back and doesn’t need to be “dermatomal” and is often bilateral.

Radiculopathy should present with pain going down a specific dermatomal pattern and in reality should almost always be unilateral. And the pain should be classically described as “nerve pain” with tingling/pine &needles/ burning/shooting. It may present with myotomal weakness from involved nerve root. Patients with central stenosis (claudication) shouldn’t really be weak on testing and should be relatively comfortable sitting.

Generally speaking old person = claudication.