Radiculopathy is a problem in which one or more nerves are affected and do not work properly and Cervical Radiculopathy is the radiculopathy in the cervical spine.
To put it in a way readily understood, cervical radiculopathy is a pinched nerve; wherein there is pressure being put in nerves that radiate out from the spinal column.
This is why this is the kind of pain that is distinguished from muscular pain or mechanical pain that a person may experience which may be caused either due to inflammation or injury to the tissues of the neck area. The chief causes of cervical radiculopathy are understood as being:
Degeneration: Over and above the regular wear and tear that your spine undergoes, over the years changes take place in the soft tissues as well as the bones of the spine.
As other parts of the body tend to become drier, the same is the case with the areas between the spinal discs which then narrows causing compression and pain.
This kind of degeneration that comes with age or for other reasons can also cause spurs to grow on the surface of the bones of the spine, which in turn put extra pressure on the nerves of the area, and this can give rise to cervical radiculopathy.
Spinal Instability: If the spine’s stability is reduced there is extra movement among the bones of the spine. This kind of instability in the spinal area can happen due to an injury to the neck or the head or if supporting ligaments have been stretched for any other reason.
The instability and consequently increased movement also puts pressure on the nerves of the area and is therefore a symptom of cervical radiculopathy.
Herniated Disc: Those that have suffered a head or neck injury which puts a lot of pressure on the spine or those that have suffered damage of the area due to excessive bending over and lifting of heavy objects repeatedly, twisting etc, can find that the outer ring of the spinal discs gets injured.
If this tears or gets ruptured what results is called a herniation of the disc which is one of chief reasons for cervical radiculopathy.
Cervical radiculopathy involves pain that may extend from the neck to the shoulders, arm etc. Headaches are also a common symptom. Since the nerves are affected in this condition, other symptoms such as numbness, weakness of the muscles or feelings of tingling can all be symptoms of the disorder.
