When Neck Pain Shoots Down Your Arm: Understanding Cervical Radiculopathy and Advanced Non-Surgical Solutions

If you’ve ever experienced sharp, burning pain that starts in your neck and radiates down your arm, you may be dealing with cervical radiculopathy—a condition that affects thousands of people each year. Cervical radiculopathy is a condition in which the nerve root of a spinal nerve is compressed or impaired, causing pain and symptoms to spread beyond the neck and radiate to other areas of the body, such as the arms, neck, chest, upper back, and shoulders. The annual incidence is 107 per 100,000 men, and 64 per 100,000 women, making it a relatively common but often misunderstood condition.

Understanding the Root of the Problem

Cervical radiculopathy is characterized by neurological dysfunction caused by compression and inflammation of the spinal nerves or nerve roots of the cervical spine. It mainly presents with neck and arm pain, sensory loss, motor dysfunction, and reflex changes according to the dermatomal distribution. Cervical radiculopathy is often caused by degenerative (“wear-and-tear”) changes — such as arthritis — that occur in the spine as we age, while in younger people, it is most often caused by a sudden injury that results in a herniated disk.

When a nerve is irritated or pinched — by either a bone spur or a part of the intervertebral disc — it causes problems in the nerve and the nerve does not work quite right. This shows up as weakness in the muscles the nerve goes to, numbness in the skin that the nerve goes to and pain where the nerve travels. In the neck, this condition is called cervical radiculopathy.

Advanced Diagnostic Techniques

Accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment. Accurate diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy requires systematic exclusion of several disorders that produce neck-related arm pain, sensory loss, or weakness. Each competing condition displays distinctive clinical, electrodiagnostic, or imaging features that direct evaluation and management.

Modern diagnostic approaches include:

• Physical Examination: A physical examination is perhaps the most important part of diagnosing cervical radiculopathy. Your provider may try to reproduce your pain with certain movements, without damaging nerves any further. Your strength, sensation, and reflexes will be tested.
• Specialized Tests: The Spurling test, shoulder abduction test, and upper limb tension test can be used to confirm the diagnosis.
• Advanced Imaging: An MRI scanner uses a magnetic field and radio waves that are not harmful to visualize the body in 3D. In most circumstances, it is the best way to see the soft tissues of the body, including nerves, intervertebral discs, and other parts of the spine other than the bones.
• When Imaging is Needed: Imaging is not required unless there is a history of trauma, persistent symptoms, or red flags for malignancy, myelopathy, or abscess.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options: A Comprehensive Approach

The good news is that the majority of patients with cervical radiculopathy get better over time and do not need treatment. For some patients, the pain goes away relatively quickly — in days or weeks. For others, it may take longer. Even when this occurs, it usually gets better without any specific treatment.

However, when treatment is necessary, several effective non-surgical options are available:

Physical Therapy and Exercise

A Cochrane review found low-quality evidence to support cervical, shoulder, scapulothoracic, and upper arm strengthening and stretching in the acute phase for treatment of radicular pain. A systematic review by Boyles et al. of 4 randomized clinical trials (RCTs), including 288 patients reported that PT improved active range of motion, function, and pain related to CR.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic treatment has shown promising results for cervical radiculopathy. There is substantial evidence that the chiropractic adjustments are beneficial in relieving a wide variety of pain syndromes. As discussed, the philosophy of chiropractic is that the primary mechanism of the condition is the vertebral subluxation causing the altered segmental function, instability, and the cascade of neurological and biomechanical ramifications as outlined above. The combination of the restoration of the segmental dysfunction/subluxation, ligament function and integrity, disc height and function, and postural changes all benefit the patient and their specific presenting symptomatology.

Conservative treatment including chiropractic manipulative therapy seems to be a reasonable alternative to surgery, for cervical radiculopathy caused by a herniated cervical disc. For residents in the Hudson County area seeking expert care, a bayonne chiro for arm pain can provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment using state-of-the-art techniques.

Manual Therapy Techniques

Physical therapists and chiropractors employ various techniques to alleviate pain associated with cervical radiculopathy. Manual therapy, such as joint mobilization and soft tissue massage, can help reduce muscle tension and promote relaxation. Additionally, therapeutic modalities, like ultrasound or electrical stimulation, may be used to target pain receptors and provide temporary relief.

Cervical Traction

Another effective technique for treatment is cervical traction. The goal of this treatment is to increase the space between each cervical vertebrae which provides relief. This technique helps decompress the affected nerve roots by creating more space in the cervical spine.

Medication Management

Medications are commonly used to control pain, inflammation, muscle spasm, and sleep disturbance. Nonoperative treatment includes physical therapy involving strengthening, stretching, and potentially traction, as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, and massage.

Epidural Steroid Injections

For more persistent cases, an epidural steroid injection places a small amount of cortisone into the bony spinal canal. Cortisone is a very strong anti-inflammatory medicine that may control the inflammation surrounding the nerves and may ease the pain caused by irritated nerve roots. Epidural steroid injections may be helpful but have higher risks of serious complications.

The Natural Course and Prognosis

Significant improvement in pain and disability tends to occur within 4 to 6 months after onset. Eighty-three percent of patients took 2 to 3 years to fully recover and 22% had moderate pain recurrence 2 to 3 years, but not as severe as the initial pain onset. A recent systematic review of literature seeking to evaluate the course of untreated cervical radiculopathy concluded that the majority of patients see substantial improvements 4–6 months that are generally maintained over 2–3 years.

Finding Expert Care in Bayonne

Dr. Paul Roses at Roses Chiropractic in Bayonne, NJ, brings over 30 years of experience treating cervical radiculopathy and related conditions. He returned to Bayonne and has now been in a practice for over 30 years committed to creating a healthier community, one person at a time. Serving the people of Hudson County area through Chiropractic is my life! It is my personal goal to deliver health and live a life free from unnecessary drugs and medicines.

At Roses Chiropractic, Dr. Paul Roses provides an advanced spinal correction utilizing state of the art chiropractic techniques. Never before in the history of chiropractic care have we been able to provide the services, expertise, and help that is now available. These newer adjustment methods are even safer, affordable, and more effective than ever before.

The Multimodal Approach

A majority of patients who have cervical radiculopathy improve within 1-2 months with appropriate medical treatment, which can consist of rest, cervical immobilization, analgesics, anti-inflammatory agents, muscle relaxants, physical therapy, as well as chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation. As evidenced throughout, the multi-factorial condition of cervical radiculopathy may indicate a multidiscipline approach for therapeutic correction and recovery.

Recent research shows that patients may seek conservative management including physical therapy (PT), chiropractic therapy (CT), and acupuncture therapy (AT). Literature supporting alternative management strategies remains limited and mixed, however, their utilization continues to rise.

Conclusion

Cervical radiculopathy can be a debilitating condition, but with proper diagnosis and comprehensive treatment, most patients can expect significant improvement. The key is early intervention with appropriate conservative care, which may include chiropractic treatment, physical therapy, and other non-surgical approaches. While medication and surgery may be necessary in some cases, physical therapy and chiropractic care offers a non-invasive and highly effective treatment option. By addressing pain, improving posture, providing targeted exercises, and promoting self-management strategies, our services at Upstate Spine & Sport can help individuals manage symptoms, regain function, and prevent future episodes.

If you’re experiencing neck pain that radiates into your arm, don’t wait for the condition to worsen. Seek evaluation from a qualified healthcare provider who can develop a personalized treatment plan to help you return to pain-free living.