Cervical Radiculopathy
Cervical radiculopathy happens when a nerve in your neck is compressed or irritated as it exits the spine. This is what people commonly call a “pinched nerve” in the neck. It produces pain, numbness, tingling or weakness that travels down the arm — often into the hand and fingers — in a pattern that depends on which nerve is affected.
What Causes It?
- Disc herniation: The inner disc material pushes out and presses on a nerve root
- Cervical spondylosis: Age-related bone spurs or disc degeneration narrow the space where nerves exit
- Foraminal stenosis: Narrowing of the openings through which nerve roots pass
- Acute injury or strain: Sudden movements can temporarily compress a nerve root
Symptoms
Symptoms depend on which nerve level is affected, but typically include:
- Neck pain with associated arm pain — can be intense and burning
- Numbness or pins and needles in the arm, hand or specific fingers
- Muscle weakness in the arm or hand
- Symptoms that worsen with certain neck positions (especially looking up or to the affected side)
- Some relief when resting the arm above the head
How We Treat It
Pain and Irritation Management
- Cervical traction (manual or mechanical) to open the nerve exit spaces
- Neural mobilisation (nerve gliding techniques) to reduce nerve sensitivity
- Soft tissue work to reduce surrounding muscle guarding
- Activity modification to avoid postures that provoke symptoms
Strengthening and Stability
- Deep neck flexor and periscapular strengthening
- Thoracic mobility to reduce compensatory strain on the cervical spine
- Gradual return to full activity
Postural Rehabilitation
- Workstation setup review
- Head and neck position retraining
- Ergonomic education to prevent recurrence
When Surgery May Be Considered
Most cases resolve with physiotherapy. Surgery is generally only considered when there is severe, progressive muscle weakness, intractable pain despite 6–12 weeks of quality conservative care, or significant neurological deficit on examination.
