Cervical Radiculopathy Questions & Answers

Updated: Jul 13, 2023
  • Author: Gerard A Malanga, MD; Chief Editor: Sherwin SW Ho, MD  more...
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Questions & Answers

Overview

What is cervical radiculopathy?

What causes cervical radiculopathy in the younger population?

What are the risk factors for cervical radiculopathy?

What is the incidence of cervical radiculopathy in the US?

What is the functional anatomy of the spinal cord involved in cervical radiculopathy?

How does cervical radiculopathy occur in athletes?

Presentation

What are the key questions in the initial evaluation of cervical radiculopathy?

What signs of cervical radiculopathy can be observed during the history portion of the evaluation?

What are the findings on palpation in patients with cervical radiculopathy?

How is manual muscle testing used in the evaluation of cervical radiculopathy?

What are the features of radiculopathy at nerve levels C5 through C8?

What are the sensory exam findings in cervical radiculopathy?

Which provocative tests are used in the evaluation of cervical radiculopathy?

What causes cervical radiculopathy?

DDX

What are the differential diagnoses for Cervical Radiculopathy?

Workup

How is plain radiography used in the workup of cervical radiculopathy?

How is CT scanning used in the workup of cervical radiculopathy?

How is MRI used in the workup of cervical radiculopathy?

How is electromyography (EMG) used in the workup of cervical radiculopathy?

How is selective nerve root block (SNRB) used in the workup of cervical radiculopathy?

Treatment

What are the treatment approaches for the acute phase of cervical radiculopathy?

What is the initial treatment of cervical radiculopathy?

What is the role of a cervical collar in the treatment of acute cervical radiculopathy?

What is the role of cervical epidural steroids in the treatment of acute cervical radiculopathy?

How effective are translaminar and transforaminal epidural corticosteroid injections for the treatment of acute cervical radiculopathy?

What are the benefits and risks of fluoroscopically guided corticosteroid injections in the treatment of acute cervical radiculopathy?

What is the role of acupuncture in the treatment of acute cervical radiculopathy?

What is the role of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) in the treatment of acute cervical radiculopathy?

What is the role of soft-tissue mobilization in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy?

What is the role of strength training in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy?

Are isokinetic exercises used in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy?

How can patients maintain their cardiovascular fitness during treatment for cervical radiculopathy?

What is the role of spinal manipulation in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy?

What is the importance of a stretching and strengthening program for patients with cervical radiculopathy?

When is surgical evaluation indicated in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy?

When is early surgical intervention indicated in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy?

When is surgery best indicated for the treatment of cervical radiculopathy?

How effective is surgery for the treatment of cervical radiculopathy?

Medications

Which medications are used in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy?

Which medications in the drug class Tricyclic antidepressants are used in the treatment of Cervical Radiculopathy?

Which medications in the drug class Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used in the treatment of Cervical Radiculopathy?