What is cervical radiculopathy?

Cervical radiculopathy, sometimes called a “pinched nerve,” is a pain that starts in your neck and travels down your arm. It happens when something is pressing on a nerve in your neck.

Here’s a simple way to think about it:

Your spinal cord is like a big cable that runs down your back, and it carries signals from your brain to the rest of your body.
Nerves branch out from your spinal cord, kind of like the wires that connect to your TV.
In your neck, these nerves are called cervical nerves.
When something presses on these nerves, like a herniated disc or bone spur, it can cause pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness in your neck, shoulder, arm, or hand.

If you think you might have cervical radiculopathy, it’s important to see a doctor to get a diagnosis and discuss treatment options.