Cervical Disc & Arm Pain
Problems in the cervical spine can cause symptoms well beyond the neck. An irritated cervical nerve may produce aching, burning, tingling, numbness or weakness into the shoulder, arm, forearm, hand or fingers.
Some patients have surprisingly little neck pain despite significant symptoms in the arm.
Is the Pain Really Coming From Your Neck?
Arm pain does not automatically mean there is a cervical disc problem. Shoulder, elbow and wrist conditions can produce similar symptoms.
We look for agreement between:
where the symptoms travel
neck movement
muscle strength
sensation
reflexes
neurological testing
MRI or other relevant imaging
One useful clinical clue is when raising the affected arm and resting the hand over or behind the head temporarily eases the symptoms. This can occur with cervical nerve-root irritation, although it is only one part of the assessment.
What Can Cause Cervical Nerve Irritation?
Common causes include:
cervical disc bulge or herniation
foraminal narrowing
degenerative disc changes
arthritic joint changes
inflammation around a cervical nerve root
a combination of disc and joint changes
The important question is not simply what appears on the MRI, but whether the finding matches the nerve involved and the patient's symptoms.
Can Cervical Decompression Help?
In appropriately selected patients, cervical decompression may be used to reduce mechanical loading through the affected region and create a more favourable environment around irritated structures.
Cervical disc and arm-nerve presentations have been among the most encouraging cases we have treated with decompression.
Some patients notice changes relatively early. Longstanding problems may take considerably more time.
The objective is not to make every disc look perfect again. It is to reduce irritation around the affected nerve and improve pain, sensation, strength and function where possible.
Not every cervical condition is suitable for decompression. Progressive weakness, significant neurological loss or other concerning findings may require further investigation or specialist assessment.
Start With an Initial Disc Assessment
Your first visit is a dedicated 30-minute assessment with Dr David Kay.
We assess your symptoms, neurological findings and cervical function and review relevant MRI, CT or X-ray imaging where available.
The purpose is to determine:
whether your arm symptoms are likely coming from the neck
which nerve may be involved
whether cervical decompression is appropriate
whether other conservative care may be useful
whether further imaging or medical referral is required
Initial Disc Assessment — $130
Treatment is not included in the initial assessment.