If you’re experiencing nerve pain in your neck, you might be suffering from a condition called Cervical Spine Radiculopathy.
Neck pain comes in many forms – and we’ve covered headaches, wry neck and whiplash in another recent blog here.
But in this article, we’re going to delve a little deeper into Cervical Spine Radiculopathy, one that we treat here at North West Physiotherapy.
If you are experiencing neck pain or discomfort, we’d strongly recommend you get in touch and make a booking with one of our qualified physiotherapists. We have clinics at Eatons Hill, Everton Park and Keperra – all offering same day appointments and the ability to book online 24/7.
As with any health condition, it’s important to have a qualified health practitioner diagnose the issue correctly from the outset and create a tailored treatment plan that will help get you back to full health (and neck mobility) as quickly and safely as possible.
What is it?
Cervical Spine Radiculopathy is a more severe form of neck, shoulder, arm and even hand pain. The symptoms of this condition are pain, numbness, altered sensation (pins and needles, burning etc.) or muscle weakness referring down the arm.
What causes it?
Cervical Spine Radiculopathy is caused by pathologies which cause irritation or compression of the nerve root. This may be from a herniated intervertebral disc or an arthritic bony spur.
Each spinal level has a spinal nerve that exits the spine area to supply nerve and motor impulses that create movement and allow sensation to be felt in the extremities of the body. There is a small area for each spinal nerve to pass through called the intervertebral foramen. When there is a reduction of this space due to discal herniation or degenerative changes, there can be increased pressure on these spinal nerves which will correspond to alteration of movement or sensation in the extremities of the body.
What symptoms am I likely to experience if I have Cervical Spine Radiculopathy?
In the neck, irritation or compression of a nerve root will be felt in the shoulder or arm as a sensory change or muscular weakness.
- Sore neck, shoulder, arm or hand
- Altered sensation in these areas – pins and needles, burning
- Muscle weakness
Who is most at risk?
Some of the risk categories for Cervical Spine Radiculopathy include:
- All age groups can be affected by Cervical Spine Radiculopathy; however, this increases for those in their 40s and 50s,
- People who are involved in strenuous activities that put high levels of stress on the cervical spine (e.g. weight-lifting), and
- Repetitive neck motions or vibrations (e.g. people who operate heavy machinery that vibrates).
Neck Pain Treatment Brisbane
If you are experiencing neck pain, or any of the other symptoms listed above, it might be time to see your Physiotherapist for a full review, diagnosis, hands-on treatment and an ongoing treatment plan tailored to your individual needs and goals.
The main goals of Physiotherapy will be to restore movement of the cervical spine, reduce the pain associated with the dysfunction and provide you with the reassurance and confidence you need to restore you to full health for good.
To make a booking at your nearest clinic, follow the links below:
- Everton Park – please call 07 3353 4111
- Keperra – please call 07 3198 444
- Eatons Hill – please call 07 3333 1646
North West Physiotherapy is your one-stop pain relief and healthy living practice in Brisbane. With three clinics across North Brisbane; Everton Park, Keperra and Eatons Hill, our aim is to provide holistic healthcare solution to suit your specific lifestyle.
Our services include Physiotherapy, Sports Physio, Hydrotherapy, Pilates, Podiatry, Dry Needling, Massage, Womens Health, and Seniors Strength and Balance Classes. Please note that services vary across our clinics.
Appointments available 6am – 7:30pm Monday to Friday, and 8am – 12:30pm on Saturdays. Book online here or call us on 07 3353 4111.
