Cervical spinal nerve root compresses causing pain in the shoulder, neck, and hands

The cervical spinal nerve roots supply movement and sensation to the shoulders, back of the neck, and the arms. When the cervical nerve root is pinched for some reason, it causes pain in the shoulders, neck and arms. In addition to causing pain, if the pressure is heavy, it can cause sensory disturbances and motor paralysis, muscle atrophy.

The peripheral nervous system has 31 pairs of spinal nerves. In which the cervical nerve root includes 8 pairs of nerves from C1-C8, exiting 2 left and right from the intervertebral foramen with corresponding cervical vertebrae, especially the C8 root exits from the intervertebral foramen of the cervical spine. and chest 1. The function governs movement and sensation in the neck, shoulders, arms; tendon reflexes triceps humerus, biceps brachii...
Spinal radiculopathy is a manifestation of cervical spinal cord nerve root damage, possibly affecting one or more nerve roots. The condition of cervical nerve root damage causes pain in the shoulder, neck and arm along with sensory and motor disturbances in the area dominated by the damaged nerve root.

The main cause of spinal nerve root disease is a herniated disc, a herniated disc is a condition in which the fibrous capsule of the disc is torn, causing the inner mucous nucleus to escape, pressing on the nerve root and causing disease. Sometimes a herniated disc may not cause obvious symptoms unless it puts pressure on the nerve roots or spinal cord.
Herniated disc can be caused by spontaneous condition. This case is often related to occupational factors such as standing for a long time, sitting a lot in one position, inactivity, obesity... Or after a direct injury. or indirectly cause disc herniation.
In addition to the cause of disc herniation, it can be caused by other causes such as:
Spondylolisthesis causing narrowing of the intervertebral foramen, compressing the exit of spinal nerves. Tumor of the spine Spinal tuberculosis

Symptoms can be acute or chronic, depending on the degree of compression. Usually, most of the cases, symptoms are unilateral, due to compression on one side of the left or right nerve root; Some also see both sides. Common signs include:
Shoulder and neck pain Pain in the neck and shoulders often, increasing when tilting the neck, turning the neck to the right or left. The pain is sometimes so intense that the patient can't lie down, sometimes sleepless because of the pain. The pain spreads to the shoulder, arm, forearm, hand and to the fingers, pain along the nerve root is pinched. From the direction of pain and the location of pain, it is possible to determine which cervical nerve root is damaged. Sometimes, shoulder pain is not clear, but many patients often feel neck fatigue, which is also a common symptom that often makes patients sick. complain.
Sensory disturbances Numbness or tingling sensation along the nerve root sensory pathway is pinched, numb to the tips of the fingers. In addition, it is also possible to see disturbances in the sensation of hot and cold, and there is a burning sensation in the nerve area that governs sensation.

Weakly affected muscles, rapid muscle atrophy Compression can cause weakness and paralysis of the muscles controlled by that nerve, accompanied by atrophy of muscle mass. Compare the two sides to know the extent of muscle atrophy.
Headache, dizziness Patients often have headaches in the occipital region, accompanied by dizziness, especially when changing positions.

When noticing signs of neck pain caused by cervical spinal nerve root compression, patients need to go to the doctor to diagnose the cause, rule out malignancy and diagnose the extent of the disease.
From the test results, combined with the level of symptoms, the doctor recommends appropriate treatment methods.
Conservative treatment is preferred, conservative treatment methods include: Using drugs including drugs with anti-inflammatory effects to reduce shoulder and neck pain, drugs to increase nerve conduction, if much pain can be Prescribe a drug that has the effect of reducing nerve pain, treating shoulder and neck pain. Physiotherapy: Using heat therapy, ultrasound therapy, stretching cervical vertebrae if the cause of hernia causes nerve root compression, exercise increases muscle strength to limit muscle atrophy. Surgery: Indicated in radiculopathy due to disc herniation when the disease has severe signs (severe pain, motor paralysis, severe muscle atrophy) and does not respond to conservative treatment or tumor causes. if surgery is possible. In addition, to limit the recurrence of nerve root disease, you should:
Scientific diet, reduce fat, increase green vegetables, fruits. Control your weight properly, lose weight if you are overweight or obese. Do not work for a long time in one position, change positions often. Practice exercises to strengthen the neck muscles under the guidance of a rehabilitation specialist, do not overdo it to avoid incorrect posture that aggravates the condition. Avoid turning, bending, and tilting your neck excessively. Cervical radiculopathy is a common cause of neck pain. The small signs should not be ignored because they do not pay attention to the aggravating effect of the disease. Regular exercise to strengthen the neck muscles is a good measure to limit the disease.

If you have unusual symptoms, you should be examined and consulted with a specialist.

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