Patients who present with severe neck pain that is radiating into their shoulders or arms may be diagnosed with a cervical radiculopathy. A cervical radiculopathy includes anything that causes irritation, compression or dysfunction of one or more of the neck nerves. The cervical nerve roots are very sensitive to any type of irritation or any type of pressure- and can cause those nerve roots to not function properly.
What goes on at the nerve root level in the neck can cause many different symptoms. Any type of irritation to the nerve root can cause inflammation which can then cause neck pain. Believe it or not, pressing on a nerve may not cause pain per se, but it can cause neurological deficits.
Each of the cervical nerve root has 3 components: 1) sensory 2) motor 3) reflex. When we say compression of a nerve root could cause neurological deficits, the sensory, motor or reflex component may be affected. Each nerve in the neck controls certain muscles, certain feelings/sensations in areas of the neck and upper shoulders and certain reflexes.
Radiculopathy can be caused by different things- and often times it is important to distinguish a radiculopathy from other conditions such as trigger points or even thoracic outlet syndrome.
The cervical level in which radiculopathy occurs most often is at C6 and C7 nerve root level.
To diagnose a radiculopathy, it is important to have a proper history and consultation with your Doctor. What caused this pain? What is the pain level? Does the neck pain travel into the arms ? Does the pain cause numbness and tingling anywhere? Your doctor will determine what level the radiculopathy is taking place by looking at sensory changes such as feeling altered sensations or tingling, decreased or absent reflexes, and weakness in certain muscles. This goes back to looking at the sensory, motor and reflex aspect of each cervical nerve root. So the first step in understanding a cervical radiculopathy, is to see your Doctor for a proper consultation, history and examination. You may also be sent out for specific imaging studies such as a cervical MRI.
I will discuss more about specific details about what can cause a radiculopathy, what symptoms present at certain levels and how to treat this type of neck pain in the next few blog posts. If you have specific questions about a cervical radiculopathy, please email me at neckpainsupport[at]gmail.com, replace [at] with “@” – NJ
Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.
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I have been told by Dr. my neck is too straight, causing carpaltunnel! What would be the best treatment for the problem. Treatment has helped my ring finger from hurting so, but I still have neck pain quite frequently.
Dear Wendy,
Having a loss of cervical lordosis is also referred to as having a “military neck”. This can put a lot of pressure on the cervical nerves and cause muscle spasm, stiffness and shooting pains into the upper extremity.
A treatment protocol of traction may be beneficial for you. It is a good idea to do some light neck stretches before starting to do traction. Do the traction protocol for 10-15 minutes (see link below for instructions), followed by ice for 10 minutes.
At night use a traction pillow. This will help to align your head and neck while you are sleeping and give you a gentle stretch in the c-spine while you are sleeping.
Remember, traction can cause some soreness in the neck in the beginning. This is normal. Your neck muscles and ligaments are not used to this new position, and it can increase the neck stiffness in the beginning.
“>http://www.arc4life.com/site/615058/page/1616235
“>http://www.arc4life.com/site/615058/page/993935
“>http://www.neckpainsupport.com/2009/03/how-to-use-the-traction-side-of-the-cervical-linear-traction-neck-pillow-for-maximum-pain-relief-and.html
Check with your Doctor to make sure that traction at home is okay for you.
Hope this helps
NJ
http://www.neckpainsupport.com
The Neck Pain Support Blog
What is Cervical Radiculopathy?
San Francisco Chiropractor Comments: Often times patients come to our San Francisco back, neck, and wrist pain centerwith a diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy. Or it is our diagnosis. In any case…the name sounds kind of strange and usually requires …
ive been diagnosed with both mild carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical radiculopathy. which is the best treatment course option? my doctor says to treat the cts first by having surgery. ive been reading articles on the internet regarding my condition/s and the symptoms im experiencing. so far,its more likely of cervical radiculopathy particularly involving c7-t1. i am more comfortable with undergoing conservative treatment than minor but still invasive surgery. is it possible or best to try to treat my neck problems first then observe if i would still need carpal tunnel surgery?
Hi Katrina, Thank you for your post to our blog. I agree with you- try all conservative treatments before opting for surgery. Try chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, wearing a wrist brace, cold laser therapy, and even ultrasound can help. Your chiropractor may also want to try a protocol of cervical traction in the office as well. Hope you find relief for your carpal tunnel- Nav
I have had MRI ‘s and arthritis tests you
Name it and my physiotherapist and massage lady have said it could be thoracic outlet syndrome. I have been paying thousands of dollars for chiropractic, massage ,physio including IMS treatments. I had even in the beginning tried Botox treatments to relieve the initial migraines I was getting with the onset of this ordeal. I have numbness in my hands and cannot even sleep on my sides any more. I am on ralivia prescribed by the pain specialist. I can no longer run as it cause tingling in my hands and have a long neck and they have said it could cause trauma to my cervical spine. I used to be a workout queen and I have not been able to do a chin up or a push up in over a year and 4 months.
This is increasingly depressing and I would like to come up with some great exercise and stretching to alleviate most of problems associated with this. Help!
Thanks for the post. It is very informative. It is actually the first time the I’ve heard about cervical radiculopathy. And now i know that our cervical nerve root is sensitive and could be the cause of back and neck pain.
I herniated some disks in my neck years ago in 2 different injuries about 4 years apart. Last in 2001. In the last 4 weeks I believe I have reinjured and have one pressing on a nerve most likely C7. I saw my regular Dr 3 weeks ago, he said shoulder strain and prescribed a 10 day dose of Ibuprofen 800 and Flexerol. While they helped with the pain while I was on them they have done nothing to heal the issue. The pain is in the back of my neck to bending backwards. Radiates under the inside edge of the scapula, out the shoulder down the tricep and then wraps over to the inside of my forearm below the elbow. Should I go see an Orthopedic or a Neurologist?
Hi I am a man who just turned 57. I have been experiencing shooting pain in the top of my arm (forearm)off and on. If I carry something with either arm bent even a piece of paper, if i carry it for a couple of minutes when I go to set it down or straighten my arm there is pain and weakness in my elbow. Also after I golf (which does not seem to be effected by this condition during the activity) I will sometimes experience a cramping toward my hand by my left thumb. and to a lesser extent the index finger cramping toward the thumb. I remember a couple of years ago I had a series of xrays and for some chest pains I had experienced and I remember they mentioned that I do have a lot of arthritis in my neck. I never have a sore or stiff neck so I thought this odd but just kind of forgot about it. Could this be related?
I had xrays ordered by a physician due to some chest pains a few years ago. They mentioned that I have a great deal of arthritis in my neck. I am very active and to my knowledge have no evidence of this. I mean my movement is good and not painful no headaches or tightness.
Fast forward to now I have pain in my arms on the top of my arms that radiates toward my hands on both sides. I control it to some degree with 4 200 mg motrin tablet per day.
Could this be related? I also after golf sometimes experience a cramping of my left thumb and index toward each other.
Candy:
My name is Dave and I have been searching the internet for treatment of issues with numbness in my hands due to a neck problem. Just like you I use to race triathlons but now I can barely walk without issues. and it has been over a year with issues
Did you ever find a treatment that helped you!
Dave
I am a past patient with neck problems. I have had a c1-c2 clerical fusion due to a old OS odontridium fracture. At this time a c5-c6 fusion was also done for a herniation. This surgery took place 41/2 years ago. I am now having headaches, numbness, tingling, and pain on right side . I do know that there is severe degeneration of cervical spine. Results of an X-ray in march 2012 due to a fall. What should be my next step. FYI the doctor who performed these fusions has now retired. At a lost of what my next step should be.