Are you aware that 85 people out of 100,000 are affected by pinched nerves?

Do you know that people in their 50s are the largest among the affected population? Perhaps you have been experiencing some pain that makes you think that you might be at the risk of a pinched nerve, it will be good if the experts help you evaluate the symptoms swiftly.

At Hygia Pain Institute, we have an experienced team that are readily available to provide you with conservative, non-invasive treatment options to minimize and possibly cure your pinched nerve.

You can be rest assured that we will give you specific details regarding pinched nerves.

What is Cervical Radiculopathy?

Cervical radiculopathy is a condition that is also known as a “pinched nerve”. This happens when a nerve root is pinched by a herniated disc or bone spur. It also happens as a result of irritation and compressions of the nerve when it leaves the spinal canal in the neck region.
Facts about cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve):

  • The most affected people are? Heavy laborers, workers that make use of vibrating machinery, athletes, people who maintain a sitting position for a long period, and people suffering from arthritis in the neck regions are the most affected
  • With young patients, a cervical disc herniation caused by trauma can lead to a cervical radiculopathy.
  • With older patients, cervical radiculopathy can occur due to arthritis or a decreased disc height in the neck.

What Causes Cervical Radiculopathy?

Cervical radiculopathy is caused by a condition that irritates or damages the cervical nerve which are;

  • cervical spinal stenosis
  • cervical degenerative disc disease
  • cervical herniated disc

some other causes of cervical radiculopathy that happens at a less frequent rate are tumors, fractures, or sarcoidosis.

Common Symptoms of Pinched Nerve

  • sharp neck pain

  • pinched nerve in neck

  • herniated disc

  • arm pain

  • arm numbness

  • arm weakness

  • neck pain after surgery

  • degenerative disc in neck

  • lack of coordination in the arm and hand

  • lack of coordination in the arm and hand

  • tingling or numbness in the back of the arm

  • general, dull achiness near the affected nerve

  • shoulder pain, numbness, or weakness

  • pain described as “pins and needles”

  • a popping sensation in the cervical regions

  • pain that progressively gets worse with specific neck movements

  • pain that improves when the patient’s arm is lifted over and behind the head—this action relieves the tension from the spinal nerve

Just as listed above, even though the problem is always located in the spine, the symptoms of the cervical radiculopathy often spread away from the neck region, the pain could be felt in shoulders, arms and hands.

Treatment and Care Options

Cervical radiculopathy treatment options are conservative. The two main goals for the treatment are to relieve the pain and to lessen the risk of a further injury

Conservative treatment options include:

which serves as support and used to limit motion while the spinal or neck injury is healing.

to alleviate inflammation, pain, muscle spasms, and sleep disturbances.

to ease pain and to aid sleep at night.

also known as a cervical nerve block.

which are typically completed after a patient has surgery to fix cervical radiculopathy. The Physical therapy strategies include: manual therapy, pain management, strengthening exercises, posture education, range-of-motion exercises, and functional training.

There are cases where conservative treatment doesn’t work, if this is so, then surgery may be needed.

Below is the list of signs that will show when a patient needs surgery:

  • increasing numbness or weakness
  • muscle wasting
  • unbearable pain
  • the problem starting to affect the leg(s)

Managing and Living with Cervical Radiculopathy

A lot of people live every day with this condition manageably. Also, there are several ways to prevent the reoccurrence of cervical radiculopathy.

  • Ensure to maintain good, proper posture while sitting.
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Use an ergonomic workstation throughout your workday.
  • Exercise regularly.

If you have any inquiry about a particular condition associated with cervical radiculopathy, we advise you to schedule an appointment with our providers. We will help you with specific strategies that will allow you to live pain free even as you manage the cervical radiculopathy symptoms.

Resources and Tools: What Should You Do Now?

Are you affected by the cervical radiculopathy? If so, we are here to help you. we will help make your life less painful. Our unique approach treats pain before it becomes chronic.

We will run series of physical examination test such as an MRI, and/or a specialized nerve test (an EMG or an NCV test) on you to confirm you are suffering from cervical radiculopathy. If detected early enough, together with the use of conservative treatment, our team of experts will help you avoid by all means and ensure that you function the way you used to before.