Pinched Nerve in the Neck
also known as Cervical Radiculopathy
What is cervical Radiculopathy?
It occurs when a nerve in the neck is compressed or irritated when it branches away from the spinal cord. This may cause pain that radiates into the shoulder, as well as weakness and numbness that travels down the arm and into the hand.
However, a lot of other conditions can mimic cervical radiculopathy, such as rotator cuff tendinopathy and biceps tendinopathy.
What are the common causes?
The nerves are commonly compressed or irritated by:
- Herniated disc
- Enlargement of small joints in the neck
- Bony spurs
- Localized inflammation around the nerve
- Positional faults in the neck joints
However, a lot of other conditions can mimic cervical radiculopathy, such as rotator cuff tendinopathy and biceps tendinopathy.
What are the main symptoms?
Symptoms vary depending on which nerve(s) and which part of the nerve(s) are irritated. They usually involve:
- Pain that spreads into the arm, neck, chest, upper back and/or shoulders.
- Tingling sensation in fingers or hands
- Stiff neck
- Arm heaviness
- Hand weakness
How can we help?
- Comprehensive head-to-toe assessment to find out the causes of your discomfort and all related contributing factors
- Specific nerve testing to make sure nerves are not truly compressed
- 100% Hands-on treatment to help address any mobility issues related to nerves, muscles and joints
- An individualized home exercise program is prescribed to enable self-management
What happens if you leave it untreated?
Generally, the longer you have had the injury, the longer it will take to recover. Most of the time, you may assume things will get better by themselves with enough rest. But this is rarely the case, especially if your pain or other symptoms are stopping you from doing what you normally able to do. So, take action and get back doing what you love as soon as possible.
