While cervical disc pathology can unquestionably produce radiculopathy, many patients presenting with arm pain, paresthesia or perceived weakness do not exhibit the clinical behavior of true nerve-root compromise. In these cases, failure to differentiate the primary pain generator may lead to unnecessary spinal injections, nerve ablation procedures or surgical consultation despite limited likelihood of benefit.
I.Q. -- Interesting Quotes
Lost with a Medical Compass
The British Journal of Hospital Medicine1 recently published, "Failure of many new heart-failure drugs: the need for vasoconstrictor rather than vasodilator agents?" The author examines the theories behind the use of these drugs and questions the use of various drugs for heart failure. He concludes with this comment which could apply to many of medicine's theories:
"There is obvious reluctance to throw away the haemodynamic 'compass' because although this may have led us in the wrong direction, at least when we believed in it, we thought we knew where we were going!"Reference
1. Cleland JGF. Failure of many new heart-failure drugs: the need for vasoconstrictor rather than vasodilator agents? Br J Hosp Med 1994;52:193-6.