Pinched neck nerves sometimes stem from a condition known as cervical radiculopathy, which causes chronic pain. Is your neck pain making it harder to enjoy simple things in life?
Grigory Goldberg, MD’s active practice addresses cervical radiculopathy treatment in New Jersey to help people regain their quality of life. As a spine surgeon in New Jersey, Dr. Goldberg may recommend everything from physical therapy to surgical intervention, depending on the patient’s needs. However, every case is different.
What you should know about treating your pinched nerve? How can a spine surgeon guide your recovery journey? Learn more below.
What Is Cervical Radiculopathy and Its Symptoms?
Spinal cords stitch several parts together to support your body, and this network includes important nerves. What is cervical radiculopathy? Understanding that starts with the nerves, which are essentially your body’s messengers.
The nerves carry information to and from the brain. Understandably, a pinched or irritated nerve won’t be able to send and receive accurate signals. The misfiring may cause various symptoms, such as:
- Muscle weakness
- Skin numbness
- Shooting pain
Your cervical radiculopathy diagnosis will confirm there’s a pinched neck nerve, and often, this causes shooting pain from your neck right down your arm. StatPearls reports that this specific type of pinched nerve impacts about 85 of every 100,000 people.
What Causes Cervical Nerve Issues?
When you visit a spine surgeon, they will attempt to find the cause of your pinched nerve and provide an accurate treatment plan. Different health conditions cause pinched nerves in the neck, such as:
- Herniated disc: Gel-like discs between your spine’s vertebrae can herniate – slide out of place or rupture – and put pressure against your spine’s nerve root. Herniated disc pain is debilitating.
- Spine degeneration: Degeneration in middle-aged or older people is quite common. Sometimes, bone spurs also rub against a nerve root and irritate it.
- Less common conditions: In rare cases, cervical radiculopathy happens with tumors, trauma, or infections.
An experienced spine surgeon can get to the root of things if you’re dealing with constant pain from a pinched nerve. Don’t wait to get help.
How Doctors Diagnose Cervical Radiculopathy
A spine surgeon like Dr. Grigory Goldberg will start with several questions regarding your medical history before performing a physical exam. This approach provides a general idea about your pain level.
After that, the doctor will often conduct other tests using X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging for a clearer picture of your body’s inner workings and potential bone degeneration. Carefully analyzing and comparing these images to your medical history and physical examination helps the spine surgeon pinpoint the cause of your pain and curate the right treatment plan.
Cervical Radiculopathy Treatment Options When You Visit a Spine Surgeon in New Jersey
What do your treatment options look like for cervical radiculopathy? Depending on the cause and your overall health, your spine surgeon may suggest one or a combination of the following treatments:
Medications
While medication can’t stop or slow down spine degeneration or other conditions, it can help you manage the pain.
Your doctor will likely prescribe medication to help alleviate discomfort caused by the pinched nerve. They may also prescribe a more rounded treatment approach by combining medicines with other potential spine treatments.
Cervical Support Equipment
Is your pinched nerve pain due to a traumatic injury? Your spine needs time to heal. Your spine surgeon may suggest a cervical collar, which stabilizes your neck muscles and limits their range of motion.
The surgeon may also suggest a cervical pillow at night to help you sleep better while decreasing nerve irritation. These innovative pillows’ unique design promotes sufficient curvature. You can easily pick one up at your local drugstore.
Epidural Steroid Injections
An experienced spine surgeon will always prioritize non-invasive treatments and suggest epidural steroid injections only when these approaches do not provide you with any relief. These steroidal injections deliver a tiny amount of cortisone into your bony spinal canal. It reduces inflammation, which can relieve your pain slightly.
While these injections aren’t always successful, one study in the Galen Medical Journal showed 37 patients with cervical radiculopathy receiving an epidural injection. Two years later, only four of these 37 patients needed surgery for their pinched nerves. Only 11 needed additional injections.
Surgical Treatment
Nearly 1 million people in the United States undergo spine surgery each year to treat their chronic neck and back pain, according to the Cureus Journal of Medical Sciences. Generally, spine surgery may be necessary if:
- You have unbearable pain.
- You notice muscle weakness and numbing.
- Your muscles seem to be wasting away.
- The general discomfort is starting to affect your legs.
Doctors use surgery as a last resort. If you haven’t found success with other treatment options, it might be worth it.
Schedule Your Appointment With a Spine Surgeon in New Jersey Today
Cervical radiculopathy causes debilitating pain, but why settle for a less-than-comfortable life? Grigory Goldberg, MD, offers compassionate care and ways to relieve this type of chronic pain. The doctor’s team relies on experience and the latest medical technology for a comprehensive approach to care, ensuring you have the best experience possible.
Schedule your first appointment online to learn more about Dr. Goldberg’s spine surgery for back pain and other pinched nerve options. Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available.
FAQs
Here are the questions people ask most about cervical radiculopathy.
Are There Any Risks With Cervical Spine Surgery?
Yes, the potential risks of cervical spine surgery include infection, bleeding, and failure to alleviate symptoms. Your surgeon will review these risks with you before agreeing to the surgery.
What Surgical Procedures Do Spine Surgeons Use for Cervical Radiculopathy?
Surgeons may use one of three procedures for cervical radiculopathy:
- An anterior cervical discectomy
- An artificial disc replacement
- A posterior cervical laminoforaminotomy
Can Physical Therapy Help With Cervical Radiculopathy?
Yes, physical therapy often helps patients with cervical radiculopathy on their healing journey. Physical therapists teach you how to strengthen the neck and prevent further injury.
