Many neck injuries and conditions can cause pain extending down into one or both of the arms. This radiating pain is called cervical radiculopathy. Problems in the cervical (aka neck) region may cause irritation and inflamation to the nerves located there. Because these nerves run down the arms and hands, it is normal for the brain to perceive the pain as originating there, even though the problem is in the neck.
There are three main nerves in the arms: median, ulnar, and radial. Each of these nerves originates at certain levels in the neck. The location of the pain in the arm may indicate where the problem lies in the neck. One cause of cervical radiculopathy is degenerative disc disease. Discs are located in the spine between the vertebral bones of the spine. The discs are circular, flat in shape, and made of a thick fibrous tissue. When the disc begins to degenerate, it loses height and becomes less resilient, which can irritate the nerves. Cervical strains may also cause radiculopathy. Cervical strains are usually caused by injuries such as being struck on the head by a heavy object, or automobile accidents. When these injuries occur, the muscles, tendons, and ligaments may become inflamed, thus irritating nerves in the neck region.
Osteoarthritis is another condition that can create cervical radiculopathy. As the arthritis progresses, bony spurs become larger and increasingly prevalent. Eventually, these spurs can begin to irritate the nerves in the neck. Brachial plexus injuries can cause cervical radiculopathy. The brachial plexus is a large bundle of nerves located where many of the nerves of the neck combine and then split into the nerves of the arm. Injury to the brachial plexus may be from neck trauma, contact sports, and motor vehicle accidents. It is easy to see why injuring this nerve bundle can cause cervical radiculopathy, since it directly affects the path of the nerve impulses.
There may be other causes of cervical radiculopathy, such as severe neck muscle spasms, cancer lesions in the neck, infections in the neck region, as well as other disease processes. For more information about what may be causing your particular symptoms, consult your doctor or physical therapist.
Post written by: Travis Rohner, PT, DPT
