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.
Your Chance to Be a CAM Researcher
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has reissued its "Transitional Tools for Clinical Studies of CAM Interventions" funding opportunity announcement, "a request for applications that focuses on encouraging the development of improved research methodology (i.e., translational tools) to study safety, efficacy, and clinical effectiveness" of manual therapies, mind-body interventions and/or yoga therapy. The NCCAM will commit up to $6 million per year for eight grants. The application deadline is March 23, with an anticipated start date of December. To learn more, visit http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files.