Dr. Eck received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Catholic University of America in Biomedical Engineering, followed by a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from Marquette University. Following this he worked as a research engineer conducting spine biomechanics research. He then attended medical school at University of Health Sciences. He is board eligible in orthopaedic surgery.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
Radiculopathy is a condition due to a compressed nerve in the spine that can
cause pain, numbness,
tingling, or weakness along the course of the nerve. Radiculopathy can occur in
any part of the spine, but it is most common in the lower back (lumbar
radiculopathy) and in the neck (cervical radiculopathy). It is less commonly
found in the middle portion of the spine (thoracic
radiculopathy).
What are the risk factors for radiculopathy?
Risk factors for radiculopathy are activities that place
an excessive or repetitive load on the spine. Patients involved in heavy labor
or contact sports
are more prone to develop radiculopathy than those with a more sedentary
lifestyle. A family history of radiculopathy or other spine disorders also
increase the risk of developing radiculopathy.
What are the causes of radiculopathy?
Radiculopathy is caused by compression or
irritation of the nerves as they exit the spine. This can be due to mechanical
compression of the nerve by a disk herniation, a
bone spur (osteophytes) from
osteoarthritis, or from thickening of
surrounding ligaments.
Other less common causes of mechanical compression of the
nerves is from a tumor or infection. Either of
these can reduce the amount of space in the spinal canal and compress the
exiting nerve.
Scoliosis can cause the nerves on one side of the spine to become
compressed by the abnormal curve
of the spine.
Other causes of radiculopathy include diabetes which can
decrease the normal blood flow to the spinal nerves. Inflammation from trauma or degeneration can
lead to radiculopathy from direct
irritation of the nerves.
Sciatica pain, caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve, typically radiates from the low back to behind the thigh to below the knee. Disc herniation is usually the cause of sciatica. Medication to alleviate pain, physical therapy, and bed rest are treatments for sciatica.
There are many causes of back pain. Pain in the low back can relate to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area.
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. The two types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (non-insulin dependent). Symptoms of diabetes include increased urine output, thirst, hunger, and fatigue. Treatment of diabetes depends on the type.
Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis caused by inflammation, breakdown, and eventual loss of
cartilage in the joints. Also known as degenerative arthritis. Osteoarthritis
can be caused by aging, heredity, and injury from trauma or disease.
Peripheral neuropathy is a problem with the functioning of the nerves outside of the spinal cord. Symptoms may include numbness, weakness, burning pain (especially at night), and loss of reflexes. Possible causes may include carpel tunnel syndrome, meralgia paresthetica, vitamin or nutritional deficiencies, and illnesses like diabetes, syphilis, AIDS, and kidney failure. Most causes of peripheral neuropathy can be successfully treated or prevented.
Scoliosis causes an abnormal curvature of the spine. When the cause of scoliosis is unknown the disorder is described based on the age when the scoliosis develops (infantile, juvenile, or adolescent idiopathic scoliosis). In functional scoliosis, curvature develops due to a problem somewhere else in the body. With neuromuscular scoliosis, there is a problem when the bones of the spine are formed. Treatment typically involves observation, bracing, and surgery and is dependent upon the severity of the curvature.
A herniated disc may be caused by injury or degeneration from age. Symptoms depend on the location of the herniation and whether nerve tissue is being irritated. An MRI or CT scan is performed to diagnose a herniated disc. Treatment may involve physical therapy, cortisone injection, pain medications, antiinflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, and surgery.
Bone spurs are pointy outgrowths of bone that develop in areas of inflammation or injury. They commonly occur on the heel and spine and may be the result of reactive arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. Symptoms include pain, numbness, and tenderness. Treatment focuses on decreasing inflammation and avoiding re-injury.
Degenerative disc disease makes the disc more susceptible to herniation (rupture) which can lead to localized or radiating pain. The pain from degenerative disc or joint disease of the spine is usually treated conservatively with intermittent heat, rest, rehabilitative exercises and medications to relieve pain, muscle spasm and inflammation.
The major goal in treating diabetes is controlling elevated blood sugar without causing abnormally low levels of blood sugar. Treatment for type 1 diabetes is with insulin, exercise, and a diabetic diet. Treatment for type 2 diabetes is first treated with weight reduction, a diabetic diet, and exercise. When these measures fail to control the elevated blood sugar, oral medications are used. If oral medications are still insufficient, insulin medications are considered.
Diabetic Neuropathy is a complication of diabetes that causes damage to the nerves; this is related to the blood glucose of the body being too high for a long period of time. The four types of neuropathy include peripheral, autonomic, proximal and focal.
Peripheral neuropathy is disorder of nerve(s) apart from the brain and spinal cord. Patients with peripheral neuropathy may have tingling, numbness, unusual sensations,
weakness, or burning pain.
What causes a peripheral neuropathy?
There are many possible causes of peripheral neuropathy,
including:
Diabetes Mellitus
Shingles (post herpetic neuralgia)
Vitamin deficiency, particularly B12 and folate
Alcohol
Autoimmune diseases, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or Guillain-Barre syndrome
AIDS, whether from the disease or its treatment,
syphilis, and kidney failure
Inherited disorders, such as amyloid polyneuropathy or
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
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