Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve root in the neck is compressed or irritated — typically by a herniated disc or bone spur — causing pain, numbness, or weakness that radiates from the neck into the shoulder, arm, or hand. It is one of the most common reasons patients seek spine care, and it responds well to both conservative treatment and surgery when needed.
What are the symptoms?
- Sharp, shooting, or burning pain radiating from the neck into the shoulder, arm, forearm, or fingers
- Numbness or tingling in a specific distribution in the arm or hand corresponding to the affected nerve root
- Weakness in the arm, hand grip, or specific muscle groups (e.g., difficulty raising the arm or pinching)
- Pain that worsens with certain neck positions — particularly extending or rotating toward the affected side
- Neck pain or stiffness accompanying the arm symptoms
- Reflex changes — diminished biceps, triceps, or brachioradialis reflex depending on the level
What causes it?
- Cervical disc herniation: The most common cause in younger patients — soft disc material protrudes and compresses the exiting nerve root, most commonly at C5–C6 or C6–C7
- Cervical spondylosis: Age-related degeneration with bone spur (osteophyte) formation that narrows the foramina through which the nerve exits the spine — more common in patients over 50
- Foraminal stenosis: Narrowing of the nerve root exit canal from a combination of disc height loss, facet joint hypertrophy, and ligamentous thickening
- Trauma: Acute cervical disc herniation or fracture following a fall, motor vehicle accident, or sports injury
How is it diagnosed?
Cervical radiculopathy is a clinical diagnosis confirmed by a history of dermatomal arm symptoms combined with a neurological examination showing the pattern of sensory loss, weakness, and reflex changes corresponding to a specific nerve root level. MRI of the cervical spine is the definitive imaging study — it shows the disc herniation or foraminal stenosis compressing the affected nerve root. CT myelogram may be used when MRI is contraindicated or findings are equivocal. Electrodiagnostic studies (EMG/nerve conduction) can confirm the diagnosis and assess severity when imaging and clinical findings are discordant.
Your Non-Surgical Roadmap — Surgery Is the Last Step
Most patients with this condition get better without surgery. Here's the path Dr. Chavarria follows before an operation is ever on the table:
- 1
Start conservative
Physical therapy, activity changes, anti-inflammatory or nerve medication, and time — the first line for nearly every spine condition.
- 2
Add targeted relief
If symptoms persist, image-guided injections (epidural or nerve blocks) can calm inflammation and pinpoint the source of pain — often avoiding surgery entirely.
- 3
Re-evaluate together
Dr. Chavarria reviews your progress and imaging with you, honestly, and explains exactly where you stand — no pressure, no rush to the OR.
- 4
Surgery — only if it's truly the best option
Reserved for severe or worsening nerve compression, instability, or when conservative care has had a fair chance. When it is right, you'll understand why and what to expect.
Treatment Options in Reno, NV — Conservative Care First
The majority of cervical radiculopathy resolves with conservative treatment over 6–12 weeks, including activity modification, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy focused on cervical traction and stabilization, and cervical epidural steroid injections. When symptoms are severe, progressive, or fail to respond to conservative care, Dr. Chavarria offers surgical options tailored to the patient's anatomy: ACDF (anterior cervical discectomy and fusion) for most cases, and cervical disc replacement (arthroplasty) for younger patients with single or two-level disease who wish to preserve motion. Posterior cervical foraminotomy is an option for lateral disc herniations or foraminal stenosis where the patient's cervical alignment does not require anterior reconstruction.
Treatment Procedures
ACDF (Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion)
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) is one of the most commonly performed and consistently successful spine surgeries. Through a small incision in the front of the neck, the damaged cervical disc is removed, the nerve is decompressed, and the vertebrae are fused — eliminating the source of neck and arm pain.
Learn More →Cervical Disc Replacement (Arthroplasty)
Cervical disc replacement (cervical arthroplasty) removes a diseased cervical disc and replaces it with an FDA-approved artificial disc implant — preserving the natural motion of that spinal segment rather than fusing the vertebrae together. For the right candidate, this motion-preserving approach may reduce stress on adjacent levels over time.
Learn More →Posterior Cervical Fusion
Posterior cervical fusion approaches the cervical spine from the back of the neck to decompress the spinal cord and stabilize multiple vertebral levels with screws and rods. It is used for conditions where the anterior approach is not sufficient — including multilevel cervical stenosis with myelopathy, cervical instability, deformity, and cases where posterior bone anatomy needs to be directly addressed.
Learn More →Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Minimally invasive spine surgery uses specialized instruments and a small incision — often less than an inch — to treat many spine conditions with less muscle disruption than traditional open surgery. Most patients go home the same day and return to daily activities in weeks rather than months.
Learn More →