Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical radiculopathy, popularly known as a pinched nerve, is the damage or alteration in how a nerve operates due to the compression of one of the nerve roots near your cervical vertebrae. There are seven small vertebrae that form your neck or cervical spine and start at the base of the skull. This is the area where the condition called cervical radiculopathy occurs.

The cervical spine houses nerves that transmit messages back and forth between the brain and your body. The roots of these nerves further branch out through various openings of vertebrae known as the foramen. Any kind of damage to these nerve roots can cause loss of sensation and pain in the entire nerve pathway, including the arm and hand, depending on the location of the damaged roots.

Symptoms of Cervical Radiculopathy

The key symptom of cervical radiculopathy is pain that radiates into your neck, arm, chest, shoulders, and upper back. Usually, this condition affects only one side of the body. 

In most cases, cervical radiculopathy results from the various degenerative alterations that occur in the spine with age or due to an injury that causes a bulging, herniated intervertebral disc. As you age, the discs lose their height and start bulging out. Simultaneously, the core of these discs starts losing moisture, becoming brittle and stiffer. This condition causes collapse and settling of the disc space and loss of disc height.

Treating Cervical Radiculopathy

You may require an evaluation and non-surgical treatment for cervical radiculopathy. Treatments for this condition include:

• A soft cervical collar, which is a padded ring that wraps around the neck and limits neck motion while giving rest to the neck muscles
• Physical therapy and targeted exercises
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS such as Advil and Motrin), and/or oral corticosteroids
• Steroid injections for more severe pain. These steroids are injected in areas adjacent to the affected nerve, decreasing inflammation. Though these steroids do not reduce the pressure on the nerve, they decrease the inflammation and pain, giving enough time for the nerve to recover.

If non-surgical treatments fail to alleviate your pain, surgery may be an option. There are many surgical procedures to treat cervical radiculopathy. The process selection depends on several factors, including types and severity of symptoms and the location of the affected nerve root.

It’s Time to Rise Above Your Pain

Double-board certified pain management, Dr. Przybysz is helping more patients live active lifestyles and find relief from cervical pain.  It’s time to reclaim your life from pain.

Schedule your appointment with Monarch Pain Management to begin your personalized treatment plan today – call (714) 793-9260 or Connect with us to book an appointment.