A pinched nerve in the neck sends pain, tingling, or weakness down the arm. Like its low-back cousin, it usually improves without surgery.
Cervical radiculopathy is a compressed or inflamed nerve root in the neck. Each root supplies a particular strip of the arm, so the location of your symptoms — thumb versus little finger, biceps versus triceps — tells us which level is involved before the MRI does.
Exam findings — strength by muscle group, reflexes, sensation, and provocative neck positions — are matched against the story. MRI is used when symptoms persist, when weakness is present, or when a procedure is being planned. An EMG nerve test sometimes helps when the diagnosis is unclear or more than one problem could explain the arm symptoms.
If any of these apply, go to an emergency department or call 911 rather than waiting for a clinic appointment.
Most cervical radiculopathy settles with time, activity modification, therapy focused on posture and nerve mobility, and short courses of appropriate medication. A few weeks of patience often spares a lifetime of neck surgery.
For arm pain that is severe or persistent, a cervical epidural steroid injection may be considered to quiet the inflamed root while the body does the slower work of healing. Injection choice and approach at the cervical level are conservative by design — we walk you through exactly what is and isn't appropriate for your anatomy.
Progressive weakness, signs of spinal cord compression, or months of disabling arm pain with a clear surgical target on MRI are reasons to sit down with a spine surgeon. We make that referral without hesitation when the picture calls for it.
Authoritative references on this topic, for patients who want to read further. These are educational resources, not medical advice.
Educational information only. This page describes cervical radiculopathy in general terms. Your situation depends on your history, examination, and imaging — the specifics are worked out at a consultation, not from a web page.
