Cervical radiculopathy is the medical term used to describe pain that runs down the arm. Cervical radiculopathy occurs when there is nerve compression in the cervical spine. Cervical radiculopathy is often caused by a cervical disc herniation.
Individuals with cervical radiculopathy can experience extreme neck pain accompanied by muscle weakness or numbness down the shoulder, arm, and into the hand. Cervical radiculopathy can be acute, meaning it develops quickly as a new problem, or it can be something that develops over a longer period of time. Sometimes cervical radiculopathy can be difficult to distinguish from shoulder problems. The patient often feels pain in the shoulder or shoulder blade and frequently sees a shoulder specialist before consulting a spine specialist in Dallas, TX.
How is cervical radiculopathy treated?
The good news is that most cervical radiculopathy cases do not require surgery and can be managed with nonsurgical treatments. Treatment is individualized based on the severity of cervical radiculopathy symptoms and the degree of spinal nerve root compression. Initial treatment involves conservative observation, anti-inflammatory medications, and physical therapy. Sometimes, pain management and steroid injections can be used to alleviate the discomfort and persistent pain caused by the affected nerve root.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) helps diagnose cervical radiculopathy, particularly to get a differential diagnosis between an actual shoulder issue and a neck problem.
If conservative treatments and injections have failed to treat cervical radiculopathy, the next step is to consider surgical procedures. The goal of surgery is to take the pressure off the nerve causing radiating pain down the arm. Surgical treatment is a very successful option for resolving radiculopathy. For more information, please contact Dr. Michael Wheeler, your spine surgeon in Dallas.
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If you’re trying to decide whether surgery makes sense — or just want to understand what recovery would look like for your specific situation — that’s exactly the kind of conversation I have in consultation.
