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Home > Conditions > Neck > Cervical radiculopathy
Many people have neck pain, which may radiate into the shoulder and arm. This type of pain can often be a result of an injury at the root of a spinal nerve. A nerve root injury is often referred to as a “pinched” nerve or in medical terms cervical radiculopathy.
As discs age, they lose height and start to bulge. In addition, they lose water content and become stiffer. As the discs lose height, the vertebrae move closer together. The body sees the collapsed disc as a possible weak area and responds by forming more bone, called spurs, around the disc to strengthen it. The bone spurs that form also play a role in stiffening the spine. Bone spurs can also narrow the canal (foramen) where the nerve exits and pinch the nerve root. The disc changes that occur as we grow older are called arthritis or spondylosis.
Almost all patients with cervical radiculopathy improve over time and don’t need surgery. Some patients will have the pain subside quickly over days to weeks, while other people take more time.