Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical radiculopathy occurs as a result of compression or irritation of a nerve in the neck, at the point where it branches away from the spinal cord.

Your spine is constructed of multiple bones (vertebrae) vertically stacked upon each other, like a pile of boxes, with jelly-like cushions (disks) between the individual bones. The top part constituting the neck is known as the “cervical spine”, and your spinal cord (large group of nerves stretching down directly from the brain) runs throughout the centre of the bony vertebral column down your back. Nerve roots branch off from this central nerve cluster and come out, through spaces between the vertebrae, to form nerves and supply to various parts of your body. Anything that bothers these roots gives rise to “radiculopathy”.

The most common cause is a herniated disk. When it slips out of place from between the vertebrae, it can impact the exiting nerves and irritate them. Thus this process is also known as a ‘slipped disk’ and frequently shows up as we get older, due to dehydration of the disk, making it vulnerable to rupture easily. Sometimes bony growths can block the outlet of the roots and produce radiculopathy or compress the central cord (myelopathy), such as that seen in the disease named ‘Spinal Stenosis’. Another source of nerve root disturbance is displacement of disk following an injury to your neck or a fall. The nerves exiting from the cervical spine mainly supply the shoulders and arms, so when the roots are irritated, you may feel the consequences in your respective arm.

When to seek expert advise

Any of the above mentioned complaints are not normal signs of health. Go ahead and see a doctor from the Department of Orthopaedic​s at The Aga Khan University Hospital. If you have had a recent injury of fall, do not delay a medical consult. Especially if pain or other symptoms are severe and sudden in nature, immediately access the Department of Emergency Medicine, which is available round the clock. ​