While cervical disc pathology can unquestionably produce radiculopathy, many patients presenting with arm pain, paresthesia or perceived weakness do not exhibit the clinical behavior of true nerve-root compromise. In these cases, failure to differentiate the primary pain generator may lead to unnecessary spinal injections, nerve ablation procedures or surgical consultation despite limited likelihood of benefit.
Howard Wolinsky
Howard Wolinsky is the Chicago Sun-Times medical writer who covered the historic Wilk, et al., v the AMA, et al., case and authored two detailed books on the subject: The Serpent and the Staff: The Unhealthy Politics of the American Medical Association (1994); and Contain and Eliminate: The AMA's Conspiracy to Destroy Chiropractic (2021).