What Is Cervical Radiculopathy?
Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve root in the cervical (neck) spine becomes compressed or irritated — most commonly by a herniated disc, bone spur, or narrowed foramen — causing symptoms that radiate down the arm along the path of that specific nerve. It is one of the most common spine conditions we treat at Pittsburgh Physical Medicine, and one that responds very well to conservative chiropractic and physical therapy care.
"Radiculopathy" literally means dysfunction of a nerve root, and "cervical" refers to the neck. When the nerve root is compressed, it sends pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness along the specific path (dermatome) that nerve supplies — which is why a neck problem can cause symptoms all the way into the hand and fingers.
Which Nerve Root Is Affected?
Different cervical nerve roots produce different symptom patterns:
- C5 — Shoulder and upper arm pain, deltoid weakness
- C6 — Lateral arm, thumb, and index finger pain and numbness; bicep weakness
- C7 — Middle finger, tricep area, and forearm pain; tricep weakness (most common)
- C8 — Ring and little finger, inner forearm; grip weakness
Identifying which nerve is affected guides our treatment approach and helps predict recovery trajectory.
Common Causes
- Disc herniation — the most common cause in patients under 50; the inner disc material presses against the nerve root
- Degenerative disc disease with bone spurs — the most common cause in patients over 50; arthritic changes narrow the nerve exit foramen
- Acute trauma — car accidents, sports impacts, or sudden forceful movements
- Poor posture over time — chronic forward head posture increases compressive forces on cervical discs
Symptoms
- Sharp, burning, or electric pain radiating from the neck into the shoulder, arm, or hand
- Numbness or tingling in the arm or fingers
- Weakness in specific arm or hand muscles
- Pain that worsens with certain neck positions (turning, looking down, or extending)
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Relief when the arm is raised overhead (the shoulder abduction relief sign — a classic finding)
When to seek immediate care: If you experience progressive weakness, loss of coordination, or bowel/bladder changes alongside neck and arm symptoms, seek emergency evaluation. These could indicate spinal cord involvement (myelopathy) rather than nerve root compression.
How We Treat Cervical Radiculopathy
The vast majority of cervical radiculopathy cases — even those with significant disc herniation — resolve with conservative care. Surgery is rarely necessary unless there is progressive neurological deficit or failure of prolonged conservative treatment.
Chiropractic Manipulation and Mobilization
Specific cervical adjustments restore joint mobility, reduce compressive forces on the nerve root, and decrease muscle spasm. We use low-force, precise techniques for acute cases with significant nerve involvement.
Cox Flexion-Distraction
This specialized technique uses a segmented table to gently distract the cervical spine, decompressing the disc and nerve root without high-velocity manipulation. It is particularly effective for disc herniation cases.
Physical Therapy with Dr. Crockatt
Targeted exercises restore cervical stability, address muscular imbalances, and teach patients postural strategies that reduce recurrent nerve compression. McKenzie method extension protocols are particularly effective for discogenic cervical radiculopathy.
Soft Tissue Therapy
Muscle tension secondary to nerve compression is addressed with Graston technique and massage therapy, reducing the muscular component of pain and improving overall function.
Suffering from Cervical Radiculopathy?
Our team at Pittsburgh Physical Medicine treats this condition with chiropractic care, physical therapy, and soft tissue techniques — under one roof in East Liberty, Pittsburgh.
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