8 Brick Plaza
Brick, NJ 08723
2. East Windsor
East Windsor Town Center Plaza
319 Route 130 North
East Windsor, NJ 08520
Wick Plaza
561 US Hwy 1 South
Edison, NJ 08817
Cervical radiculopathy, otherwise known as a pinched nerve in your neck, is a painful medical condition. The pain limits what you can do and occupies your mind from the moment you awake until you finally fall asleep at night. Since there are many causes of neck pain, you need an accurate diagnosis before treatment can begin. Get the best care in New Jersey at NU-Spine, a specialty medical practice in Edison. Dr. Branko Skovrlj is an experienced spinal specialist who finds the cause of your pain and addresses it with the most appropriate treatment. Don’t let cervical radiculopathy stop you; call NU-Spine today for an evaluation.
Radiculopathy refers to a spinal nerve that’s been pinched or impinged. There are three kinds of radiculopathy:
The only difference between them is the area of the spine where the affected nerve is: your neck, mid-back or lower back. Your cervical spine — the top of your spine that extends above your shoulders — is the most flexible part of your whole spine. It allows you to turn your head side to side, up and down and any combination in between.
The cervical spine is the least protected part of your spine. This part of your spine also supports your head, which weighs as much as a small bowling ball, about 11 pounds on average. Damage to any nerve root around the spine in your neck leads to a painful condition known as cervical radiculopathy or a pinched nerve.
A nerve root is a nerve that leaves your spinal column to go to the other parts of your body. In fact, eight pairs of nerve roots exit the cervical spinal cord through tiny openings between adjacent vertebrae. These cervical nerve roots enable you to control and feel your:
When a nerve root becomes inflamed or damaged for any reason, you feel pain, numbness, noticeable weakness or poor reflexes. A pinched nerve not only causes pain in your neck, but you may also feel it in your extremities too — wherever that nerve leads to.
Visit the spinal specialist at NU-Spine, The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute spine and pain center, in Edison, New Jersey for a definitive diagnosis. The highly experienced team under a leading spine neurosurgeon Dr. Branko Skovrlj uses the modern facility to diagnose and treat all kinds of spinal problems, from simple back pain to spondylosis.
Symptoms of cervical radiculopathy mostly affect just one side of the body. These signs include:
You may be more at risk for this cervical spinal condition if you’re older than 60, smoke cigarettes, have diabetes or do repetitive strenuous activities with your neck or head. At NU-Spine’s state-of-the-art treatment facility, your spinal specialist completes comprehensive diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of your neck pain. Then you’re treated for the underlying spine problem for long-lasting results.
You get a pinched nerve in your neck due to degenerative changes to the vertebrae, a damaged vertebral disc or a neck injury, in particular a compression injury. During your evaluation by your spinal specialist in northern New Jersey, the tests reveal the cause of your spinal issue. Once you have an accurate diagnosis, your doctor recommends the best cervical radiculopathy treatment for you.
Some common causes of cervical radiculopathy are:
Dr. Skovrlj, a renowned spine surgeon, may order diagnostic tests after reviewing your medical history and performing a thorough physical exam. These diagnostic tests may include a Spurling’s test, MRI, x-rays, CT scan or electromyography (EMG). Each case is different, so your spinal doctor must learn as much as he can about your case before starting treatment.
Your targeted cervical radiculopathy treatment option depends on your specific diagnosis, your overall health and other factors. Possible treatments include:
Surgical options include anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, cervical disc replacement, or endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy/discectomy. Your doctor recommends the most appropriate surgical procedure for your unique case.
With the latest spinal diagnostics technology and up-to-date techniques, your doctor can find the underlying cause of your neck pain. If it’s due to a pinched nerve, you’re recommended the most effective treatment for your case. Dr. Skovrlj has experience with many cervical spine ailments, including cervical radiculopathy.
At the NU-Spine facility in Edison, NJ, Dr. Skovrlj offers a multi-disciplinary approach to cervical radiculopathy treatment. Treatment ranges from non-invasive spinal treatments to minimally invasive spine surgery. If you experience pain, numbness, and weakened muscle function in your neck, arms or shoulders, contact the practice today to schedule an evaluation.
References:
1. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Cervical Radiculopathy (Pinched Nerve).
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/cervical-radiculopathy-pinched-nerve/
2. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Sravisht Iyer, Han Jo Kim (2016) Cervical radiculopathy.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4958381/
3. American Academy of Family Physicians. Jason David Eubanks, MD (2010). Cervical Radiculopathy: Nonoperative Management of Neck Pain and Radicular Symptoms
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2010/0101/p33.html
8 Brick Plaza
Brick, NJ 08723
East Windsor Town Center Plaza
319 Route 130 North
East Windsor, NJ 08520
Wick Plaza
561 US Hwy 1 South
Edison, NJ 08817
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