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.
Lauriann Greene, CEAS
Lauriann Greene and Richard Goggins are co-authors of Save Your Hands! The Complete Guide to Injury Prevention and Ergonomics for Manual Therapists, 2nd Edition. Trained as a massage therapist, Lauriann is now a certified ergonomics assessment specialist and has been a leading writer and educator on this subject for over 15 years.