A Pain in the Neck

What is cervical radiculopathy? The name sounds complicated, but the symptoms are familiar! Commonly reported symptoms can involve weakness or a heavy sensation in the arms and/or pain that begins in one area and, as implied by the name, radiates to other areas of the upper body and back. So, for example, pain in the neck or shoulder can radiate down throughout the entire arm. Other symptoms include dull pain all over the arms, back or shoulder blades, more sharp and stinging pain in one of these areas and that pins-and-needles sensation we associate with our limbs “falling asleep”. Patients often report that bending and moving the neck often increases their overall pain level but not always. During consultations, we often see patients that may not realize that their symptoms are coming from the neck but feel like they have a “knot” or spasm in their upper back. In short, cervical radiculopathy is quite literally a pain in the neck!

What causes cervical radiculopathy? This condition occurs when a nerve in the cervical spine of the neck becomes inflamed or otherwise irritated. This can happen for many different reasons including muscular imbalances and joint restrictions that further squeeze and create tension on the nerves. This is problematic because nerves of the cervical spine branch out from the neck throughout the shoulders and arms. Once a nerve of the cervical spine is irritated, the sensation and function of the shoulders, arms, hands and fingers can be compromised, not to speak of the pain that one can feel and the loss of function due to that pain. A case of that pins-and-needles feeling may be just one indicator of a deeper problem like cervical radiculopathy.

Treating cervical radiculopathy involves a combination of several things. First, taking anti-inflammatory medication calm those nerves down. Icing the painful area also provides relief. However, this is only a quick and temporary fix that will not totally alleviate the problem! Physical therapy is most always indicated to treat the underlying muscular imbalances that might be contributing to this condition. For longer lasting pain relief and more drastic results, seeking an evaluation from a physical therapist is the most effective course of action. We can assess the severity of the problem to treat and, if needed, refer you to some of our outstanding physicians to help you to recover. At Rebalance, our therapists can use several personal holistic hands-on techniques to treat your cervical radiculopathy. Your physical therapist will manually treat you with a holistic eye, educate you on exercises and stretches to perform on your own and suggest changes in your usual physical activity that will relieve pain and pressure on the neck.

Are you experiencing the pain and spine-tingling pain and discomfort caused by cervical radiculopathy? Contact Rebalance physical therapists to treat these symptoms and say goodbye to that pain in the neck!