Common symptoms

Typically the result of an injury or repeated activities over a long period of time

Not all neck and arm pain has a surgical solution

Arm pain, numbness, tingling and weakness can be caused by pressure on the nerves traveling from the neck down the arm

Neck extension usually aggravates pain

Relief with arm elevation and touching the back or the top of the head with the hand

Imaging of the spine with an MRI is very useful to assess the status of the discs, patency of the spinal canal and assess for any nerve compression

Treatment focuses on conservative management first

• Medications – to reduce pain and inflammation

• Epidural steroid injections – to reduce pain and inflammation. Performed by Pain specialists

• Activity restrictions

• Physical therapy

• Alternative therapies – e.g. acupuncture

Surgery is recommended when:

• There is arm pain and/or numbness or weakness

• There is radiographic evidence of spinal cord or root compression at the level corresponding to the patient’s symptoms

• Symptoms are resistant to conservative therapy