Stiff muscles are just one of several simpler ailments your neck pain might signal. It can also indicate something significantly more severe, like a pinched nerve in your cervical spine. Other symptoms accompanying this pain, like weakness, numbness or discomfort extending to your arms, should definitely prompt visiting a professional in cervical radiculopathy.
Causative factors like trauma, ruptured discs, or spinal degeneration can lead to this condition, commonly known as pinched nerve in the neck. Not receiving proper treatment for cervical radiculopathy can severely limit plagued individuals from achieving many day to day activities reliant on sustaining an acceptable quality of life.
If you fall under the category of needing a herniated disc specialist in Clifton, NJ or more broadly a back pain specialist, or have recently suffered an injury and need trained injury specialists, here are seven critical signals that suggest the need for consulting a specialist.
1. Unabated Pain Old Stubborn Neck
Defined as persisting for a number of days, uninterrupted recurring pain definitely feels redundant and annoying which stems from much more complex issues, like muscle strain. One of which includes nerve compression. Cervical radiculopathy, which is often misdiagnosed as chronic pain, entails persistent ache restriction encompassing the neck and shoulder region.
Consulting a trained cervicocranial therapist equips people better to tackle such complex issues. With extensive assessment topical focus on surgically treatable problems starting from the spine through the bones of skull, bespoke solutions tackling root causes of distress can be engineered ensuring maximized referable comfort fetching undisrupted wellbeing.
2. Tingling or Paresthesia of the Hands and Arms
Do you notice a tingling sensation in your fingers or arms frequently? The spine’s cervical region may be pinching a nerve, causing these sensations. A herniated disc or a misaligned spine could be the spinal issue and if you’ve been in a car accident or fallen recently, this could be the case. If that’s so, you need to see an accident doctor.
In this set of circumstances, working with an accident injury specialist is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment to prevent the risk of permanent nerve injury.
3. Hands Or Shoulder Weakness
Are you finding it challenging to lift, grip, or perform tasks that require arm strength? Overtime, a compressed nerve can weaken muscles in the cervical spine. Weakness of this type tends to indicate a more advanced case of cervical radiculopathy.
Such cases require finding a herniated disc or a radiculopathy expert from Clifton who can validate his diagnosis using imaging studies like MRI, ultrasound, or electromyography.
4. Pain radiating to the arm from the neck
If in your neck area there is a severe burning sensation accompanied with pain that extends to one arm only, chances are, you have a pinched nerve. This tends to be a typical symptom of cervical radiculopathy.
Note this symptom. An NJ Back Pain Expert will use both advanced and conservative therapies to relieve inflammation and nerve pressure.
5. No Benefits from Use of Medication or Physical Therapy
Did taking medication, rest, or physical therapy not help in any way? This is yet another strong reason to seek the assistance of a cervical radiculopathy specialist. Oftentimes, the cause of the issue is much deeper than basic treatments can reach, especially if the nerve is severely damaged or compressed.
6. Past Injuries or Accidents
If you recently got into an accident or experienced a fall and have been feeling pain around your neck or arms, you may be suffering from cervical radiculopathy. Due to an injury, vertebral misalignment or disc herniation may occur which in turn can lead to the compression of nearby nerves.
In this instance, an accident or injury specialist should be your first point of contact. These specialists evaluate injuries and help mitigate the risk of developing chronic issues down the line.
7. Problems with Hand Coordination or Balance Issues
These rare, yet highly concerning cases of cervical radiculopathy can also come along with problems of balance as well as coordinating the hands and fingers. These symptoms may suggest that there is more to this case – like cervical myelopathy, which is a condition affecting the spinal cord.
It becomes extremely critical for you to seek the attention of a back pain specialist in NJ or a herniated disc specialist in Clifton if any of these grave symptoms are surfacing.
The Consequences of A Delay
Overlooking the signs of cervical radiculopathy may result in permanent injury and functional loss due to nerve disruption. Consulting with radiculopathy cervical spine specialists guarantees accurate diagnosis through imaging techniques like MRIs and EMGs, alongside a tailored treatment plan geared towards prompt action.
Most patients respond positively to these non-invasive options:
- Physical therapy
- Chiropractic treatment
- Epidural steroid injections
- Managed medications
- Surgical procedures are sometimes required to relieve pressure from the affected nerve.
Guidelines for Patients in New Jersey
Look for a caring approach that includes:
- Board certification in neurosurgery or orthopedic surgery
- Integrated interventional imaging
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Specialist treatment for traumatic injury
Comprehensive care is available from diagnosis through to recovery by a Clifton herniated disc specialist, injury specialists, or a back pain specialist in NJ.
Conclusion
In the case that you are experiencing persistent pain in your neck, as well as numbness, weakness, or pain radiating down your arms, then it is crucial to see a cervical radiculopathy specialist as soon as possible. Do not wait until your mobility and quality of life is affected, or until the condition worsens.
Regardless if your problems stem from a herniated disc, injury or even degenerative changes, it is important to consult the right professional. The correct back pain specialist in NJ, injury specialist, or herniated disc specialist in Clifton will ensure that you live pain free.
