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.
Richard Goggins, CPE, LMP
Richard Goggins and Lauriann Greene are co-authors of Save Your Hands! The Complete Guide to Injury Prevention and Ergonomics for Manual Therapists, 2nd Edition. Richard is a board-certified professional ergonomist, and has spent nearly 20 years working with business owners and employees to prevent injuries in a wide variety of industries.