Cervical radiculopathy is a condition that occurs when the nerve roots in the neck region become compressed or irritated. This compression or irritation can cause pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the neck, shoulder, arm and hand. A range of factors including degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, bone spurs and spinal stenosis can cause this condition. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most common triggers and their associated symptoms of cervical radiculopathy and how physiotherapy and chiropractic care can help.
Degenerative Disc Disease: Degenerative disc disease occurs when the discs between the vertebrae in the neck begin to wear down and lose their cushioning ability. When this happens the bones in the neck can rub against each other causing inflammation and irritation. Over time this can lead to cervical radiculopathy. Physiotherapy and chiropractic care can both be effective in treating degenerative disc disease and alleviating the associated symptoms.
Herniated Discs: A herniated disc occurs when the gel-like material in the center of the disc protrudes through a tear in the outer layer. This can happen due to wear and tear or as a result of an injury. When a herniated disc occurs in the neck it can put pressure on the nerves causing cervical radiculopathy. Both physiotherapy and chiropractic care can be effective in treating herniated discs.
Bone Spurs: Bone spurs are bony growths that can develop on the edges of bones. When bone spurs develop in the neck they can compress the nerves leading to cervical radiculopathy. Physiotherapy and chiropractic care can both be effective in treating bone spurs and relieving the associated symptoms.
Spinal Stenosis: Spinal stenosis occurs when the spaces within the spinal column narrow, putting pressure on the nerves. This can cause cervical radiculopathy symptoms. Both physiotherapy and chiropractic care can be effective in treating spinal stenosis and alleviating the associated symptoms.
In conclusion, cervical radiculopathy can be caused by a range of factors, including degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, bone spurs, and spinal stenosis. When you have cervical radiculopathy, physiotherapy and chiropractic care can both be effective in treating these conditions and alleviating the associated symptoms. If you’re experiencing neck pain, shoulder pain, arm pain or numbness, or weakness, it’s important to see a qualified healthcare professional for an assessment and appropriate treatment. With proper care, you can get relief from cervical radiculopathy and get back to living your life pain-free.
