Cervical Radiculopathy and Neck Pain

 

Cervical radiculopathy often called a pinched nerve, is when a nerve root in the cervical spine becomes inflamed or damaged by being compressed. It results in deficits such as numbness, altered reflexes, or weakness, and it may radiate anywhere from the neck into the shoulder, arm, hand, or fingers. Neck pain and pins-and-needles tingling can vary from mild to intense.

Eight pairs of spinal nerves send messages back and forth between your muscles and your brain. The nerve roots at the top of your neck feed movement and feeling to your head and neck. The nerves at the bottom of your neck supply muscles that enable the functioning of the arms and hands.

But what causes Cervical Radiculopathy?

 The natural aging process often causes cervical radiculopathy. Years of traumatic events on your spine can lead to several degenerative spinal disorders, manifesting as neck pain. A traumatic or sports injury can also be the cause of this condition. Fortunately, conservative treatments can manage and prevent this type of neck pain. 

There’s a wide range of treatment options available for cervical radiculopathy.       

  • Physical therapy and exercise help strengthen the neck muscles and improve your range of motion.        
  • Cervical spinal traction can be of use during physical therapy. Stretching the spinal vertebrae and muscles to create space between the vertebrae relieves compression and allows the muscles to relax.
  • Avoiding strenuous activity (like sports or lifting heavy objects), but not all activity, as too much rest may hinder your recovery.

Learning to use proper body mechanics is necessary to prevent further injury. If the patient is willing to maintain a good level of physical fitness, reduce stress, and use appropriate body mechanics, he can conveniently reduce the risk of injury from activity. Appropriate posture means maintaining the natural curve of the spine. Doing this helps to minimize stress caused to the spine. Posture is the first lesson the patient learns from a physical therapist because poor posture and body mechanics are two of the leading causes of neck and back pain.

Advice by a Physical Therapist

  • Working on your neck muscles and keeping them strong helps prevent the development of neck pain.
  • Correct posture during your sleep includes sleeping on your back or side with a pillow that supports the natural lordosis of your neck.
  • While using an electronic device (e.x. a computer), ensure that your eyes align with the top third of your screen.
  • When reading, avoid long periods of looking down (neck flexion) by keeping your arms supported in the armrests and ensuring your glasses, if you use them, are pushed up on the bridge of your nose.
  • Improving posture, ergonomics, and muscle strength can prevent the onset and help alleviate the symptoms of radicular neck pain.

Many patients find optimal relief by trying a combination of treatments rather than a single approach. For example, a steroid injection may provide acute pain relief that is sufficient to allow the patient to progress with physical therapy for longer-term pain relief.