Cervical Radiculopathy

Question on a patient with Cervical Radiculopathy
Cervical Radiculopathy
Like

Share this post

Choose a social network to share with, or copy the URL to share elsewhere

This is a representation of how your post may appear on social media. The actual post will vary between social networks

Scenario: A 57-year-old male presents with reports of left-sided neck, shoulder, and arm pain persisting for the past eight months. He does not recall a specific injury and reports a gradual onset of pain. Symptoms are described as aching with burning and numbness into the arm and hand. He works as a medical billing specialist and reports increased symptoms after sitting at his desk for over an hour and driving his car for extended periods of time. Cervical left side bending and rotation movements increase arm pain and manual distraction provides symptom relief. Significant forward-head posture is noted along with weakness of the bilateral rhomboids, middle trapezius and serratus anterior. Diminished sensation is noted over the left thumb along with weakness of the left wrist extensors.

Question: What medications are most commonly used to treat cervical radiculopathy and it’s symptoms?

A. Corticosteroids and Tylenol

B. Tylenol and opioids

C. NSAIDS and corticosteroids

D. Opioids and NSAIDS

Answer with rationale: C. NSAIDS and corticosteroids. NSAIDS have anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties to assist with relieving radicular radiating pain and swelling in the cervical spine. Corticosteroids assist with pain in the spine and related radiating pain.

For more information see Chapter 114: Cervical Radiculopathy in The Color Atlas of Physical Therapy

Create a Free MyAccess Profile

AccessMedicine Network is the place to keep up on new releases for the Access products, get short form didactic content, read up on practice impacting highlights, and watch video featuring authors of your favorite books in medicine. Create a MyAccess profile and follow our contributors to stay informed via email updates.