Did you know that “pinched nerves” affect 85 out of every 100,000 adults in the US each year? Cervical radiculopathy is a condition more commonly known as having a pinched nerve in the neck.
Usually, there is an underlying compression of the local discs, which irritate the nerves in the neck and can be caused by-
- “Wear and Tear” from aging and/or arthritis
- trauma to the neck
- Herniated discs from lifting, pulling, bending, or twisting
- Degenerative changes of the facet joints, including arthritis or spondylosis
Signs and Symptoms of Cervical Radiculopathy
Some telltale signs of Cervical Radiculopathy are when a patient has radiating pain down the arm (that is not cardiac related!). Pain is usually described as burning, “pins and needles,” or sharp and may be accompanied by limited neck mobility. Extending, turning, and looking down the neck can worsen symptoms.
Some other symptoms of Cervical Radiculopathy include:
- A sensation of “pins and needles” or tingling in the fingers/hands
- Weakness in the arm, shoulder, or hand muscles
- Numbness or loss of sensation
How is Cervical Radiculopathy Diagnosed?
The first thing your physiotherapist will do if you come to them with symptoms of Cervical Radiculopathy is conduct a thorough physical examination. They’ll do a physical exam of the head, neck, shoulders, arms, and hands. Then they’ll talk to you about the pain you’ve been experiencing as well as your medical history.
If the pinched nerve is the result of a sudden injury like a sports injury or going too hard at the gym, it may be simple to diagnose. There are instances, however, where it’s not so straightforward. Additionally, your physio may want to get a better look to see how serious things are. In this case, they may refer you out for X-Rays, MRIs, or EMG Tests (Electromyography to measure the electrical impulses of muscles at rest and during contractions to determine nerve function).
Physical Therapy for Cervical Radiculopathy
The good news is that most patients don’t need surgery to heal from pinched nerves. Instead, nonsurgical treatment for cervical radiculopathy is often preferred in many cases. Using specific types of manual therapy and pain reducing exercises can accelerate your recovery without having to go under the blade!
Next Level Physio for Cervical Radiculopathy
Next Level Physio is committed to working with you on your road to pain-free living. Best of all, we do it totally medication and surgery FREE! In addition to pinched nerves, Next Level Physio treats many different conditions including:
- Sports injuries
- Prehab and Post-surgical rehab
- Knee and back pain
- shoulder and elbow pain
- Wrist and hand pain
- Ankle and foot pain
- Sciatica/back pain… and more
Just some of the methods we use to help our physical therapy patients include:
- IASTM Technique
- BFRT- Blood Flow Restriction Training
- AlterG anti-gravity treadmill
- Therapeutic Exercise
- Australian Manual Therapy
- Cupping, and more
Click here to schedule an appointment and set up a free consultation.
