Cervical radiculopathy is a condition that affects the cervical nerve roots in your neck. This condition can cause numbness, tingling and pain in your arms, neck and shoulders. It’s caused by nerve compression due to issues such as a herniated disc, bone spur or degenerative disc. Cervical radiculopathy can be debilitating and significantly affect your everyday life. Fortunately, there are different ways you can alleviate cervical radiculopathy. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the best ways to treat this condition including physiotherapy and chiropractic care, which have been shown to be quite effective.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is often recommended for people who have and are looking for a treatment for their cervical radiculopathy. Your physiotherapist can help to relieve pain, strengthen your neck muscles, and increase your mobility. They can also give you exercises that can improve your posture and prevent future episodes of cervical radiculopathy. Physiotherapy treatment can be a combination of manual treatment, exercise, and other techniques. The longevity of this treatment for cervical radiculopathy can vary.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is another effective way to treat cervical radiculopathy. Chiropractors are experts at manipulating the joints and soft tissues in your neck and spine. They can help to alleviate pain, improve the range of motion of your neck, and prevent future episodes of cervical radiculopathy. Chiropractic treatment can include spinal manipulation and massage therapy.
Medications
Pain medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen can help to alleviate the pain associated with cervical radiculopathy. Additionally, your doctor may prescribe stronger pain medications like narcotics, for short-term pain control. Muscle relaxants can also be prescribed to alleviate muscle spasms that may be adding to the pressure on your cervical nerve roots.
Surgery
Surgery is usually the last option recommended if other treatments haven’t helped. Surgical treatment includes procedures like discectomy and laminectomy that remove the compressing structures from your cervical spine. Recovery periods and post-operative care can span weeks to months.
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the risk of developing cervical radiculopathy, includes basic changes to posture, sleeping patterns, and work environment. Avoiding neck strain like heavy lifting, driving long distances, or using your phone for extended periods is suggested to prevent future recurrence.
Cervical radiculopathy can be dangerous when it goes untreated. Fortunately, there are many effective ways to alleviate this condition that is otherwise debilitating. Treatment must be carefully adopted and adapted on an individual basis. Physiotherapy treatments, chiropractic care, medication, surgery, and lifestyle changes can significantly help to reduce pain, improve mobility, and ultimately heal. It’s important to ask your doctor which treatment is best suited for your individual case to achieve optimal health outcomes and long-term recovery.
