By Brooke Strickland and Dr. Andrew Cash
Cervical radiculopathy is a condition that is caused by damage, irritation or compression of the nerve roots near the cervical vertebrae. This type of damage can happen from issues such as degenerative arthritis, or other injuries that can affect the nerve roots. The symptoms of cervical radiculopathy are pain that goes through the shoulders, arms, or neck. There also may be tingling, weakness, or numbness in the hands or fingers and many times lack of coordination or impairment of motor function can happen.
To find out if you have this condition, your doctor will likely do a physical exam and then order MRI or CT scans to look at the bones and tissues around the cervical spine.
Most patients’ symptoms will improve over time. However, many times a doctor will need to evaluate the condition and find out if specific treatments are necessary. These treatments may include a combination of anti-inflammatory drugs, steroid injections, chiropractic and physical therapy. Other times, cervical collars may be needed for a short period of time to immobilize the neck and allow for healing. Each patient’s specific case is different and will be evaluated on an individual basis.
For more information on this condition, contact Dr. Cash at www.disclv.com.
You can also view Dr. Cash's Verified Reviews here or his personal page at www.andrew-cash-md.com.