How is cervical radiculopathy treated?
How is cervical radiculopathy treated?
Fortunately, over 85% of cervical radiculopathy cases resolve (get better) without any specific treatments within eight to 12 weeks.
If your symptoms persist, cervical radiculopathy has several treatment options. As the condition affects everyone differently, your treatment plan will be unique to your situation.
Treatment options include:
- Immobilization.
- Medication.
- Physical therapy.
- Cervical epidural steroid injection.
- Surgery.
Healthcare providers almost always start with nonsurgical therapies to treat cervical radiculopathy. About 90% of people with cervical radiculopathy have good to excellent outcomes with nonsurgical therapy.
If nonsurgical treatment isn’t working, your healthcare provider may recommend surgery.
Immobilization for cervical radiculopathy
For short-term management and to alleviate symptoms, your healthcare provider may recommend wearing a soft cervical collar (neck brace) to minimize neck movement and reduce nerve root irritation. A soft cervical collar is a padded ring (collar) that wraps around your neck and is held in place with Velcro®.
Healthcare providers typically don’t recommend wearing a cervical collar for more than one to two weeks because it can lead to muscle atrophy (muscle loss) in your neck.
Medication for cervical radiculopathy
In some cases, certain medications can help alleviate (relieve) symptoms of cervical radiculopathy, including:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen, can provide both pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects for cervical radiculopathy. They provide relief by targeting the inflammation at the affected nerve root(s). You can buy these medications without a prescription at a pharmacy.
- Oral corticosteroids: A short course of oral (taken by mouth) corticosteroids may help relieve pain by reducing swelling and inflammation around the pinched nerve. You’ll need a prescription from your healthcare provider for these medications.
Physical therapy for cervical radiculopathy
Physical therapy and specific exercises focused on strength training and stretching your neck muscles can help treat cervical radiculopathy. Again, your physical therapy regimen will be unique to you and depend on several factors, such as which area of your neck is affected and your overall physical health and abilities.
In general, a physical therapy regimen for cervical radiculopathy will progress you through different stages as your pain improves, beginning with gentle range-of-motion exercises and adding strengthening and conditioning activities once the acute (severe and sudden) symptoms fade.
Your physical therapy may also include learning ways to have good posture and perform your job safely and comfortably.
Cervical epidural steroid injections for cervical radiculopathy
A cervical epidural steroid injection (cervical ESI) is an injection of anti-inflammatory medicine — a steroid or corticosteroid — into the epidural space around your spinal nerves in your neck. The main goal of cervical epidural steroid injections for cervical radiculopathy is to help manage pain caused by irritation and inflammation of the spinal nerve roots in your neck.
Although cervical ESIs don’t relieve the pressure on the nerve caused by a narrow foramen or by a bulging or herniated disk, they may lessen the swelling and relieve the pain long enough to allow the affected nerve to recover.
Approximately 40% to 84% of people who receive a cervical epidural steroid injection experience at least partial pain relief. But some people don’t experience any pain relief.
Cervical ESIs have potentially serious side effects and complications. Be sure to ask your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of getting a cervical ESI.
Surgery for cervical radiculopathy
Your healthcare provider may recommend surgery if you’re experiencing severe and persistent pain despite trying nonsurgical therapy for at least six to 12 weeks or if you’re experiencing severe or worsening neurological issues due to cervical radiculopathy.
Several different surgical procedures can treat cervical radiculopathy. The procedure your healthcare provider recommends will depend on many factors, including what symptoms you have, your overall health and the location of the affected nerve root.