Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical Radiculopathy Care at UVM Health

Cervical radiculopathy occurs when one of the nerves in your neck gets compressed. It is also known as a pinched nerve.

As you age, the cushioning (discs) between your spinal bones starts to dry out, lose height or bulge. Any of these changes can cause a disc to press against one of the nerves leaving your spinal column, causing pain, numbness and weakness in one or both arms.

Pinched nerves often get better without surgery. At University of Vermont Health, our spine team offers individualized, effective care to help relieve pain and get you back to your usual activities.

Close-up on hands rubbing the back of a man's neck.

Why Choose UVM Health?

Trust your care to the largest spine program in Vermont and northern New York. As one of the leading orthopedic programs in the region, we offer:

Team-based, specialized care: Orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons with fellowship training in spine surgery collaborate with a team of experts — including pain management physicians, physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, dedicated spine physical therapists and advanced practice providers — to provide comprehensive care.
Patient-centered approach: We personalize each treatment, turning to surgery only when it’s the most effective option. Nurses and physical therapists spend extra time educating you on your treatment plan to help you understand what to expect if you need surgery.
Research emphasis: As part of a health system anchored by an academic medical center, our physician-leaders are active researchers at the forefront of orthopedic care.

Cervical Radiculopathy Symptoms

Most people with cervical radiculopathy have stinging or burning pain that starts in their neck and travels down one or both of their arms. You may notice that certain movements worsen or relieve pain. You may also experience:

Numbness, tingling or loss of sensation in your hands or fingers
Shoulder, arm or hand weakness

Diagnosing Cervical Radiculopathy

When diagnosing cervical radiculopathy, your specialist will examine your neck, shoulders, arms and hands. Then they’ll ask about your symptoms, including when they started, how they’ve progressed and what relieves them.

Then we use several tests, including:

X-rays: Use low doses of radiation to create images of your bones to examine the alignment in your cervical spine (the portion of your spine running through your neck)
MRIs: Use magnets and radio waves to get a close look at your soft tissues
Electromyography (EMG): Measures the electrical signals between your muscles and nerves

Cervical Radiculopathy Treatment

Most people with cervical radiculopathy can find pain relief without surgery. Our team starts with a noninvasive approach, only turning to surgery when other treatments haven’t been effective. Your care may include:

Medications for Cervical Radiculopathy

Your provider may prescribe anti-inflammatory medicines or steroids. These medications help decrease swelling, reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

Physical Therapy for Cervical Radiculopathy

A physical therapist can teach you exercises that help improve your range of motion and increase strength. They may also use hands-on techniques to gently stretch your neck muscles and joints.

Injections for Cervical Radiculopathy

Your provider may inject a steroid medication close to the painful nerve. This helps to reduce inflammation and swelling so the nerve can heal.

Bracing for Cervical Radiculopathy

You may wear a soft neck brace or collar temporarily to limit the range of motion in your neck. This helps your neck rest and relieves pressure on the pinched nerve.

Surgery for Cervical Radiculopathy

If nonsurgical treatments don’t work, we offer several surgical options to relieve nerve compression. Your surgeon may use an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), disc replacement or a foraminotomy.

In an ACDF, your surgeon removes the damaged disc and joins two or more spinal bones to stabilize your neck. In a disc replacement, they remove the affected disc and replace it with an artificial one. In a foraminotomy, they widen the opening where the nerve exits your spinal column to relieve pressure.

Awards & Certifications

Healthgrades

Healthgrades, a prominent online resource for consumers seeking information about doctors and hospitals, has named University of Vermont Medical Center among the top 10 percent in the U.S. for outpatient orthopedic surgery and recognized the academic medical center with its prestigious Outpatient Joint Replacement Excellence Award.