A cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve or nerve root is pinched or irritated. Common symptoms include weakness, numbness and pain in the muscles and areas which the nerve affects, such as the arms, forearms, hands or fingers. A cervical radiculopathy can be caused by numerous factors, including herniated cervical intervertebral discs, degenerative joint disease, bone spurring and cervical vertebrae instability.
Herniated Disc
A herniated or bulging cervical intervertebral disc is a common cause of cervical radiculopathy. The Spine-Health website states that cervical disc herniations are most common in people between the ages of 30 and 50. Cervical disc herniations and the resulting radiculopathy can be caused by traumatic injuries; however, many of the symptoms associated with cervical herniated discs can also appear spontaneously. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), a cervical disc herniation occurs when a portion of the disc's center pushes through a crack or fissure in the disc's fibrous outer ring. The protrusion can place pressure on the nerve roots--offshoots of the spinal cord--and cause pain, numbness or weakness in one or both arms. The AAOS lists the following as risk factors for cervical disc herniations and radiculopathy: improper lifting techniques, smoking, excessive body weight, sudden pressure, and repetitive, strenuous activities.
Degenerative Joint Disease
The Spine Universe website states that a bone spur can cause foraminal encroachment on spinal nerve roots, which may result in a cervical radiculopathy. Bone spurs may develop as a result of degenerative joint disease, or DJD, such as osteoarthritis. Like cervical disc herniations, degenerative joint disease and bone spurs are a common cause of cervical radiculopathy, and can often be treated using conservative methods. According to the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch, conservative management of cervical radiculopathy involves maneuvers to decrease pressure on the affected nerve root.
Spinal Instability
According to eOrthopod.com, spinal instability is one of the most common causes of cervical radiculopathy. Spinal instability involves excessive and aberrant movement of the vertebrae. The principle cause of cervical spine instability is stretched or torn supporting ligaments due to a significant head or neck injury. Traumatic injuries are not the only cause of cervical spine instability, however. People with infections, inflammatory diseases, congenital disorders and connective tissue disorders are also at risk of spinal instability and cervical radiculopathy. When ligament laxity allows the cervical vertebral body to slip forward, the condition is known as spondylolisthesis. Spondylolisthesis in the cervical spine can produce neck pain and radicular symptoms. Conservative treatment of spinal instability involves activity modification and physical therapy modalities such as postural training, thermal therapies, electrical stimulation and spinal traction. Home exercises to strengthen and stabilize spinal joints may also be effective.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: A Patient's Guide to Cervical Radiculopathy
- Spine-Health: Herniated Cervical Disc, Cervical Radiculopathy
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Herniated Disk
- Spine Universe: Guide to Degenerative Diseases of the Cervical Spine
- Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch: Cervical Disc Herniation
