Understanding Cervical Radiculopathy: A Natural Approach to Healing

What Is Cervical Radiculopathy?

Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve in the neck becomes compressed or irritated—often due to a herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, or arthritis-related bone spurs. This nerve irritation can cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that radiates down the shoulder, arm, and hand.¹

While traditional treatments aim to calm inflammation and restore mobility, acupuncture offers a unique advantage by targeting both the symptoms and the underlying tension affecting the nerves, muscles, and surrounding tissues.

Common Symptoms of Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical radiculopathy doesn’t always show up as classic "neck pain." Because the cervical nerves extend into the shoulders, arms, and hands, symptoms can appear far from the actual source of the problem.

Common symptoms include:

• Sharp, burning, or aching pain in the neck

• Pain between the shoulder blades (often mistaken for muscle strain)

• Burning or shooting pain into the shoulder or arm

• Wrist or hand pain (sometimes misdiagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome)

• Tingling or numbness in the fingers

• Pins-and-needles sensation

• Weakness in the shoulder, arm, or grip

• Pain that worsens when turning the head or looking up

  
  

These overlapping symptoms are why many patients first think they have shoulder arthritis, tennis elbow, or carpal tunnel syndrome—when the root cause is actually in the neck.

How Acupuncture Helps Cervical Radiculopathy

1. Calms Overactive Nerve Signals

When nerves are irritated, they overreact—sending amplified pain signals to the brain. Acupuncture helps by:

• Releasing endorphins (natural painkillers)

• Balancing neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine

• Modulating the nervous system to reduce the intensity of pain³

  
  

2. Relieves Neck and Shoulder Muscle Tension

Tight or spasming muscles can compress nerves even further. Acupuncture helps relax these muscles, reduces guarding, and improves mobility—especially in the trapezius, scalenes, and paraspinal muscles.

Clinical studies show patients receiving acupuncture reported greater improvement in pain and function than those using conventional therapy alone.⁴

3. Enhances Blood Flow and Tissue Healing

Acupuncture increases microcirculation, which:

• Reduces local inflammation

• Improves oxygen and nutrient delivery to damaged tissue

• Supports healing of discs, ligaments, and nerve roots⁵

  
  

4. Promotes Nerve Regeneration

Research suggests acupuncture may support nerve recovery by reducing oxidative stress, improving conduction, and restoring normal nerve function—helping patients recover from numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness³.

5. A Whole-Body Approach to Healing

In TCM, cervical radiculopathy is often seen as Qi and Blood stagnation in the channels that run from the neck into the arm. Acupuncture restores circulation, removes blockages, and balances the body’s internal energy to support long-term healing.

What the Research Says

• 2019 Systematic Review: Acupuncture + cervical traction was more effective than traction alone for reducing pain and improving nerve function.⁴

• 2021 Meta-Analysis: Acupuncture significantly relieved neck and arm pain with fewer side effects than long-term use of medications.³

  
  

Why Patients Choose Acupuncture

Patients often choose acupuncture for several reasons:

• Natural relief without dependence on painkillers

• Safe and gentle with minimal side effects

• Effective for pain, stiffness, and function

• A great complement to physical therapy, chiropractic, or medical care

  
  

Find Relief and Move Freely Again

If neck and arm pain are interfering with your daily life, we’re here to help. At Orangetown Acupuncture, we create personalized treatment plans to address both symptoms and root causes—so you can heal naturally and return to doing what you love.

📞 Call 845-570-5057 or

📅 Book your appointment today to take the first step toward lasting relief.

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References

¹ Mayo Clinic. Cervical radiculopathy overview.

² Cleveland Clinic. Cervical radiculopathy symptoms and diagnosis.

³ Zhao L, et al. (2021). Acupuncture for Cervical Radiculopathy: Meta-analysis.

⁴ Yang X, et al. (2019). Systematic Review of Acupuncture and Traction Therapy.

⁵ Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Acupuncture and microcirculation studies.