What is cervical radiculopathy?
Cervical radiculopathy is the term used to describe irritation or pinching of a nerve root in the neck which causes radiating symptoms into the shoulder or down the arm. This can include pain, weakness, numbness or pins and needles in the affected arm.
Anatomy of the neck
The neck consists of seven stacked cervical vertebrae labelled as C1 to C7. These vertebrae provide structural support to the head and allow for a wide range of motion. The nerves in the neck that come from the neck and run down the arm primarily originate from the spinal cord. There are eight pairs of these cervical spinal nerves, labelled as C1 to C8. Each spinal nerve emerges from the spinal cord through spaces between the cervical vertebrae.
What causes cervical radiculopathy?
There are a few potential causes of cervical radiculopathy which may include compression of the nerve root in the neck due to a protruding or herniated disc, a bone spur due to osteoarthritis, or swelling of a small joint between the vertebrae called a facet joint. Symptoms are most common between the ages of 40 and 50 years old and it is more common in males.
What are the symptoms of cervical radiculopathy?
Symptoms tend to manifest as neck pain, pain in the shoulder blade and arm/hand, patients can also experience muscle weakness, headaches and numbness or pins and needles in the arm and hand. Radiating symptoms tend to follow the specific pattern of the nerves called dermatomes. Symptoms tend to be one sided.
How is cervical radiculopathy diagnosed?
Your physiotherapist will carry out a thorough assessment in order to establish where the pain is coming from. You may be asked questions about when and how your pain began, what increases the pain and if you have had dizziness or any other symptoms in your head. Your physiotherapist will check the range of movement in your neck and likely your upper back and shoulders. It is also important for your Physiotherapist to check the function of your nervous system with a neurological examination.
Physiotherapists are trained to be able to diagnose the level of impingement in your neck and manage the symptoms. In severe or chronic cases your physiotherapist may consider referring you for imaging such as an MRI.
Treatment of cervical radiculopathy
Physiotherapy treatment for cervical radiculopathy may include a combination of manual therapy, acupuncture and dry-needling, electrotherapy, nerve-glide exercises and a bespoke stretching/strengthening programme tailored to your needs. You may also be given advice on posture and positioning.
Sometimes you may need specific medications to help with your pain and we can arrange this with your Pharmacist or GP. Most cases of Cervical radiculopathy improve with Physiotherapy within 6-12 weeks however it is crucial to start treatment with this condition early as the more chronic the condition becomes (if you have had the pain over 6 weeks it is termed “chronic”) it can be more difficult to treat.
If you feel you are struggling with cervical radiculopathy pain don’t hesitate to get in touch with us and schedule an appointment with one of the team.
