Understanding Neck Pain and Cervical Radiculopathy
Neck pain is the fourth leading cause of disability worldwide. While many cases are muscular or postural in nature and resolve with conservative care, pain that radiates from the neck into the shoulder, arm, or hand — known as cervical radiculopathy — indicates compression or irritation of a cervical nerve root and warrants specialist evaluation.
The cervical spine (neck) contains 8 pairs of nerve roots that supply sensation and motor function to specific regions of the arm and hand. When one of these roots is compressed by a herniated disc, bone spur (osteophyte), or narrowed foramen (the opening through which the nerve exits), it produces a characteristic pattern of symptoms corresponding to the affected nerve level. C6 compression causes symptoms in the thumb and index finger; C7 compression affects the middle finger; C8 compression involves the ring and little fingers.
Symptoms
- Aching or sharp pain in the neck, shoulder, or upper back
- Pain radiating from the neck down the arm to the hand
- Numbness, tingling, or pins-and-needles in the arm or fingers
- Weakness in shoulder, arm, or hand muscles
- Headaches originating at the base of the skull
- Pain that worsens with neck rotation or extension
- Muscle spasms in the neck and upper back
Treatment Options at Our Katy Practice
Dr. Qureshi takes a multimodal, non-surgical approach to pain management. Treatment recommendations are based on your diagnosis, imaging findings, symptom severity, and prior treatment history.
- Cervical epidural steroid injections for cervical radiculopathy
- Selective cervical nerve root blocks for diagnostic precision
- Facet joint injections and medial branch blocks for axial neck pain
- Radiofrequency ablation for chronic cervical facet pain and cervicogenic headaches
- Occipital nerve blocks for headaches from neck pathology