Cervical Radiculopathy in Pregnant and Nursing Mothers
Patients suffering from neck pain and radiating along one of the shoulder or the whole upper limb is a common scenario in Cervical radiculopathy. It happens due to compression of the exiting nerve roots by the protruding disc or due to perineural oedema of inflammatory origin. But things get more complicated when it happens in the backdrop of Pregnancy or in lactating mothers.
The limitations starts as most of the drugs we traditionally use to counter a cervical radiculopathy have a risk of crossing the placenta or getting excreted in the breast milk. Most of such drugs have been known to produce teratogenic effects in the fetus; or the least their safety has not been proven till date.
I had a consultation with the physiotherapist at our set-up. I believe the only safe remedy that we can offer is a mix of Electrotherapy and support to the neck region with avoidance of all precipitating events.
Interferential therapy involving low frequency electric current has shown consistently good results in patients with neuritis or radicular pain. Although, the safety of IFT in Pregnancy has not been conclusively proven, it is supposed to be least harmful, when we need to balance between the risks and benefits.
It may be combined with posture training, Neck Isometric exercises and Cervical Collar. All these contribute in symptomatic improvement. Moist heat packs may also be utilized.
The patients may also be put on anti-inflammatory medications like Acetaminophen. Drugs like Gabapentin and Pregabalin should be avoided at all costs, due to inherent risk of teratogenecity, unless we have more studies to support its usage.
Trending Products
