Neck Pain With Radicular Pain Physio Treatment | Physio Penrith
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Physio Penrith Neck Pain With Radiating Pain Treatment

Treatment of Neck Pain with Radiating Pain at Sydney Muscle & Joint Physio Penrith

What is neck pain with radiating pain?

Neck pain with radiating pain can also be termed neck pain with radicular symptoms and/or radiculopathy. Radicular pain suggests that the nerve is irritated and symptoms can be categorised by paraesthesia (pain, numbness, burning, tingling, etc). Radiculopathy suggests that the individual has a compressed nerve. In the acute phase, the condition is usually highly irritable (pain experienced at rest or with initial to mid-range spinal movements: before tissue resistance); in the subacute phase, the condition often exhibits moderate irritability (pain experienced with mid-range motions that worsen with end-range spinal movements: with tissue resistance); and chronic conditions often have a low degree of irritability (pain that worsens with sustained end-range spinal movements or positions: overpressure into tissue resistance).

What are the symptoms of neck pain with radiating pain?

Neck pain can be reproduced with neck and shoulder movements and thus restricted range of motion is usually present. Radicular pain suggests that the nerve is irritated and symptoms can be categorised by paraesthesia and include pain, numbness, pins and needles, burning and tingling down the arm into the hand and fingers. A radiculopathy suggests that the individual has a compressed nerve and represents a more serious injury. In this instance symptoms include radicular pain, reduced or diminished reflex and weakness in the neck, shoulder and arm.

How do you diagnose neck pain with radiating pain?

The physiotherapists at Sydney Muscle & Joint Clinic use a diagnostic approach supported by research, in respect to diagnosing neck pain with radiating pain a physical examination may include:

  • Neck and neck-related radiating pain reproduced or relieved with radiculopathy testing: positive test cluster includes upper-limb nerve mobility, Spurling’s test, cervical distraction, cervical range of motion

  • May have upper extremity sensory, strength, or reflex deficits associated with the involved nerve roots

Guideline-based treatment of neck pain with radiating pain?

For patients with acute neck pain with radiating pain our physiotherapists are ever present about irritability of pain in the acute phase and treatments include varying degrees of joint mobilising techniques and stabilising exercises, further the short-term use of a cervical collar is also considered.

 

For patients with chronic neck pain with radiating pain our physio's use multimodal treatment approaches and may provide mechanical intermittent cervical traction, combined with other interventions such as stretching and strengthening exercise plus cervical and thoracic joint mobilisation/manipulation. Further, our physio's provide education and counseling to encourage normal participation in occupational, activities of daily living and exercise routines. activities.

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