Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical radiculopathy, commonly known as a pinched nerve in the neck, causes pain, numbness or weakness radiating down the arm. It occurs when a nerve root in the cervical spine becomes compressed or inflamed. We are here to provide you with personalized care every step of the way, offering support and comfort during your healthcare journey.

What Is Cervical Radiculopathy?

Cervical radiculopathy happens when a nerve root extending from the spinal cord in the neck gets pinched or irritated as it branches out. This compression is most often caused by age-related degenerative changes, such as cervical spondylosis (arthritis of the neck) or by a herniated disc. While the symptoms can be intense and disruptive, we are prepared to manage any challenges that arise and help you find relief.

At a Glance

Cervical radiculopathy involves a pinched or irritated nerve in the cervical spine.
Symptoms usually affect one side and travel down the shoulder, arm, or hand.
Most patients improve significantly with conservative treatments like physical therapy and medication.
An MRI of the neck is the best imaging tool to confirm nerve compression.
Surgical options are highly effective if symptoms do not improve with conservative care.

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Physical Examination — testing reflexes, muscle strength and sensation in the arms, often using specific movements like Spurling's test to check for nerve compression.
MRI of the cervical spine — the gold standard imaging test to view soft tissues, bulging discs and pinched nerves with high precision.
X-rays — used to look for spinal alignment, bone spurs or narrowing of the disc spaces.
Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) — tests to measure nerve electrical activity and confirm exactly which nerve is affected.

Types

Treatment

Conservative Management — the first line of treatment. Includes physical therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and activity modification.
Epidural Steroid Injections — targeted corticosteroid injections carefully placed around the affected nerve to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) — a highly effective surgical procedure to remove the compressing disc or bone spur from the front of the neck and fuse the adjacent vertebrae for stability.
Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement (cADR) — an alternative to fusion for eligible patients, where the damaged disc is removed and replaced with an artificial joint to preserve neck motion.

Outcomes

Treatment Modality	Success Rate	Notes
Conservative care	~75-90%	Most patients improve without surgery within weeks to months
ACDF / cADR (Surgery)	~85-95%	Highly effective for relieving arm pain when conservative measures fail
Epidural Injections	Variable	Can provide significant temporary or long-term pain relief to aid physical therapy

References

Our Specialists

Mohamad Bydon, MD

Neurosurgery

Timothy Witham, MD

Neurosurgery

Martin Herman, MD, PhD

Neurosurgery

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