Sharp, Burning, or Aching Pain
Pain may travel from the neck into the shoulder, arm, forearm, or hand.
Lakeside Chiropractic · Joondalup
Cervical Radiculopathy Treatment in Joondalup
Arm pain, tingling, or weakness coming from a pinched nerve in the neck. Here is what it means and how we can help.
Cervical radiculopathy is the clinical term for symptoms that occur when a nerve root in the neck is compressed or irritated. It is one of the more disabling neck conditions we see at Lakeside Chiropractic in Joondalup, and one that may respond well to an appropriate conservative approach.
Identify the Nerve Root
Symptoms, sensation, strength, and reflexes help localise the problem
Understand the Cause
Disc, joint, bone-spur, and inflammatory factors are considered
Escalate When Needed
Progressive weakness or spinal-cord signs require medical review
Understanding the condition
What Is Cervical Radiculopathy?
The nerves that supply your arms exit the spinal cord through small openings between the vertebrae called foramina.
When a disc herniation, bone spur, or inflamed tissue encroaches on one of these openings, the nerve root can become compressed or irritated.
The result may be pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness that travels from the neck into the shoulder, arm, or hand along the path of the affected nerve.
See our cervical disc herniation page for more detail on how disc injuries may contribute to this condition.
C5/C6 Pattern
Symptoms commonly extend toward the thumb and index-finger side of the hand.
C6/C7 Pattern
Symptoms commonly extend toward the middle finger and the back of the forearm.
Common symptoms
How Cervical Radiculopathy Can Feel
Symptoms vary with the nerve root involved and the degree of irritation. A useful distinguishing feature is that the pain, tingling, or numbness often follows a consistent path down the arm.
Tingling or Pins and Needles
Tingling often follows a specific part of the arm or enters particular fingers.
Numbness
The affected nerve root may cause reduced sensation in the arm, hand, or fingers.
Arm or Hand Weakness
Weakness may affect particular muscles or grip depending on the nerve involved.
Symptoms With Head Position
Tilting or rotating the head toward the affected side may increase symptoms.
Relief With the Arm Overhead
Some people notice temporary relief when resting the hand on the head or raising the arm.
Seek urgent medical assessment
Watch for Spinal-Cord Warning Signs
Progressive weakness or other neurological changes should not be ignored. Seek urgent medical assessment for:
- Progressive arm or hand weakness
- Changes to balance or walking
- Bowel or bladder changes
These may indicate involvement of the spinal cord rather than only a nerve root.
Evidence and prognosis
What the Research Says
The overall prognosis is generally favourable, and research supports an active, multimodal conservative approach for many patients.
Most Patients Improve Without Surgery
A systematic review by Wong et al. (2014) found that most patients see substantial improvement within the first four to six months.
The majority reached complete or near-complete recovery without surgery.
Promising Results in Multimodal Care
A systematic review by Boyles et al. (2011) found generally promising outcomes for manual therapy used alone or alongside exercise and traction.
Improvements were reported in pain, function, and range of motion.
Mobilisation Plus Motor-Control Exercise
A review by Thoomes (2016) found that combining spinal mobilisation with motor-control exercises produced better outcomes than either approach alone and better than waiting without active care.
Assessment first
How We Help at Lakeside Chiropractic
We need to identify which nerve root is involved, what is causing the compression, and whether there are any features that require urgent medical review.
Once we have a clear picture, we build a treatment plan around the evidence and your presentation.
- History: We review where the symptoms travel, what aggravates them, what relieves them, and how they affect daily activity.
- Neurological testing: Reflexes, sensation, strength, and relevant nerve-root signs are assessed.
- Movement assessment: We examine cervical and upper-thoracic movement and the positions that reproduce or ease symptoms.
- Plan or referral: We explain the findings and recommend conservative care, imaging, or medical review as appropriate.
Chiropractic Adjustment and Mobilisation
Gentle techniques may be applied to the cervical and upper thoracic spine to restore movement, reduce joint compression, and offload the affected nerve root. Technique selection is adapted to the severity and nature of the presentation.
Rehabilitation and Exercise
Motor-control and strengthening exercises for the cervical spine are central to recovery and relapse prevention. Exercise combined with manual therapy generally performs better than either approach alone.
Soft Tissue Therapy
Releasing the cervical, shoulder, and upper-arm musculature may reduce secondary muscle pain and improve comfort when guarding develops around an irritated nerve root.
Dry Needling
Trigger points in the neck and shoulder muscles frequently develop alongside cervical radiculopathy and can amplify referred pain patterns.
Cervical Traction
Manual or mechanical traction creates temporary separation between the vertebrae and may reduce pressure on the nerve root in selected presentations, particularly during an acute or irritable phase.
Denneroll Cervical Orthotic
A home-use traction device may be used to support the natural cervical curve and reduce chronic loading on an affected nerve root when appropriate.
Cold Laser Therapy
Low-level laser may be applied to the cervical region to address local inflammation and support tissue recovery.
Read more at Cold Laser Perth.
Activator Method
A low-force, instrument-assisted technique may be used where a gentler approach to joint treatment is more appropriate, including acute or highly irritable presentations.
Come and see us
Arm Pain, Tingling, or Weakness Is Worth Assessing
If you have arm pain, tingling, or weakness coming from your neck, it is worth getting properly assessed. The longer nerve-root compression goes unmanaged, the more established the symptoms can become.
We see patients from Currambine, Woodvale, Kingsley, Duncraig, Wanneroo, Tapping, Carramar, Heathridge, Edgewater, Mullaloo, Padbury, Banksia Grove, Yanchep, Gnangara, and across Perth's northern suburbs.
Call us on 9300 0095 or book online at lakesidechiro.com.au.
Disclaimer: This page provides general health information only and is not a substitute for professional assessment, diagnosis, or treatment. Results vary between individuals. Please consult a qualified health professional to discuss your individual circumstances.
Supporting literature
References
- Wong JJ, Cote P, et al. The course and prognostic factors of symptomatic cervical disc herniation with radiculopathy. Spine J. 2014;14(8):1781-9. PMID 24614255
- Boyles R, Toy P, Mellon J, Hayes M, Hammer B. Effectiveness of manual physical therapy in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy: a systematic review. J Man Manip Ther. 2011;19(3):135-42. PMID 22851876
- Thoomes EJ. Effectiveness of manual therapy for cervical radiculopathy, a review. Chiropr Man Therap. 2016;24:45. PMID 27980724
- Bryans R, et al. Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with neck pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2014;37(1):42-63. PMID 24262386
Location Details
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Sunday | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Monday | 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Thursday | 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Friday | 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Saturday | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
