Cervical Radiculopathy
Cervical radiculopathy can be defined as a compressed or pinched nerve in the neck. When a nerve root is inflamed, pain travels toward the shoulder, arm, or hand. If the pain becomes chronic, it can limit your professional life, daily activities, and athletic performance.
Identify the exact cause of your radiating arm pain and discover minimally invasive cervical radiculopathy treatments that preserve your neck motion. Reclaim your active lifestyle with a predictable, fast-tracked recovery.
What Causes Your Radiating Arm Pain?
Mechanical pressure occurs when spinal anatomy changes and crowds the nerve pathways. A cervical disc herniation may be caused by injuries in younger active adults.
Age-related bone spurs and cervical spondylosis often compress nerves in older patients. General wear and tear reduces the cushioning space between your vertebrae.
Recognizing Key Symptoms and Nerve Patterns
The hallmark symptom of cervical radiculopathy is a sharp, radiating pain from the neck down the arm. Secondary symptoms include numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness in specific fingers.
Turning the head often worsens the pain, while placing a hand on the head can provide temporary relief. Progressive weakness indicates a need for immediate medical evaluation.
Dr. Rojeh Melikian completes a comprehensive physical and neurological exam to assess strength, reflexes, and sensation. Advanced MRI imaging may be used to pinpoint the exact location of cervical nerve root compression. We rule out other conditions, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or rotator cuff issues, to ensure precise care.
We initially focus on non-surgical treatment options, such as targeted physical therapy and NSAIDs. Cervical epidural steroid injections deliver direct anti-inflammatory relief to the affected nerve.
Over 85% of cervical radiculopathy cases resolve without specific surgical treatments after eight to 12 weeks of conservative therapy. Most patients find significant relief with structured conservative care. We recommend surgical intervention if you experience persistent pain or worsening weakness after conservative measures fail.
Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgical Solutions
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) is a highly successful, traditional option to relieve nerve pressure. Cervical Disc Replacement is our specialized, motion-preserving alternative to fusion. Cervical Disc Arthroplasty demonstrates superior long-term clinical success with over 77% overall success at five-year follow-up, lower rates of adjacent segment disease, and better range-of-motion preservation compared with traditional fusion.
The benefits of disc replacement include faster return to peak performance and less stress on adjacent discs. Cervical Foraminotomy is a targeted procedure to remove bone spurs without requiring a fusion. Posterior cervical foraminotomy yields significantly shorter hospital lengths of stay and lower 90-day readmission rates compared with ACDF.
What to Expect From Your Recovery
Many patients go home the same day and return to desk work within two to four weeks. Our minimally invasive approaches reduce soft tissue damage to fast-track your healing. While pain relief is often immediate, numbness or weakness may take several months to resolve fully.
Schedule Your Cervical Radiculopathy Consultation Today
We are committed to providing a definitive, long-lasting solution to your chronic pain. Partner with our team to develop an evidence-based plan to return to an active lifestyle.
Schedule a consult online or call (949) 806-6946 to book an evaluation.