Assessing and managing radicular pain

This module starts with a brief overview of the history of a condition that has long has confused clinicians and scientists. We clear up some of the common words used to describe different kinds of back and leg pain, and the words used in MRI reports. And we take a deep dive into what is known about the pathology of the painful nerve root.

This module explains how to answer three key clinical questions. Is this person’s pain coming from their spine, or is it something else? Does this person have radicular or referred pain? And How is this person’s nerve functioning?

This module draws from the qualitative research and patients’ own accounts to understand the condition from their perspective. It suggests various ways we can talk with patients to help them understand and manage their pain.

This module gives an overview of what the evidence base says for the most common interventions for the condition: exercise, injections, surgery and medications. It explains what the indicators are for referring on, and when.