Why Acupuncture Works Well for Cervical Radiculopathy

If you’ve ever experienced sharp neck pain radiating down your arm, along with tingling or weakness in your hand, you may have been told you have a “pinched nerve” in the neck—the medical term is cervical radiculopathy.

While medications, injections, or even surgery are often discussed, many patients find lasting relief with acupuncture. Here’s why acupuncture is such an effective, natural treatment option.

What Is Cervical Radiculopathy?

Cervical radiculopathy happens when a nerve in the neck becomes compressed or irritated, often by a herniated disc or arthritis-related bone spurs. This leads to pain, numbness, or weakness that follows the nerve down into the arm and hand.¹

Traditional treatments focus on reducing inflammation and restoring movement—but acupuncture offers unique benefits by addressing both the symptoms and underlying nerve and muscle tension.

Common Symptoms of Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical radiculopathy doesn’t always show up as simple “neck pain.” Because the nerves in your neck travel down into the shoulders, arms, and hands, irritation at the root can cause pain in many different places.

You may notice:

• Neck pain that may be sharp, burning, or aching

• Burning pain in the shoulder or upper arm

• Pain between the shoulder blades, often mistaken for muscle strain

• Wrist pain or stiffness, sometimes confused with carpal tunnel or arthritis

• Tingling, numbness, or pins-and-needles in the hand or fingers

• Shooting or burning pain down the arm

• Muscle weakness in the shoulder, arm, or grip strength

• Symptoms that get worse when you look up, turn your head, or hold poor posture for long periods²

These overlapping symptoms explain why some patients come in thinking they have carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, or shoulder arthritis—when in reality, the problem starts in the neck.

Why Acupuncture Works Well for Cervical Radiculopathy

1. Acupuncture Calms Pain Signals

When nerves are irritated, they send excessive pain messages to the brain. Acupuncture helps by:

• Releasing endorphins, the body’s natural pain relievers

• Regulating brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, which improve pain tolerance

• Modulating the nervous system so pain signals are less intense³

2. It Relieves Muscle Tension Around the Neck and Shoulder

Tight muscles in the neck and shoulder often worsen nerve compression. Acupuncture relaxes these muscles, reduces spasms, and eases pressure on irritated nerves.

In one review, patients with cervical radiculopathy who received acupuncture reported greater improvements in pain and mobility compared to conventional therapy alone⁴.

3. It Improves Blood Flow and Healing

Acupuncture increases microcirculation in the treated area, which helps:

• Decrease local inflammation

• Deliver more oxygen and nutrients to damaged tissue

• Support healing of discs, ligaments, and nerve pathways⁵

4. It Supports Nerve Recovery

Beyond pain relief, research suggests acupuncture has neuroprotective effects—helping nerves heal and function more normally. This means numbness, tingling, and weakness in the arm may gradually improve with treatment³.

5. A Whole-Body Approach to Healing

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), cervical radiculopathy is understood as Qi and Blood stagnation in the channels that run from the neck into the arm. By restoring smooth circulation of Qi and Blood, acupuncture reduces pain and restores balance throughout the body.

What the Research Says

• A 2019 systematic review found that acupuncture combined with cervical traction was more effective than traction alone for relieving pain and improving neurological function⁴.

• A 2021 meta-analysis concluded that acupuncture significantly reduces neck and arm pain compared to standard care, with fewer side effects than long-term medication use³.

Why Patients Choose Acupuncture

• Natural relief without dependence on painkillers

• Safe and gentle with minimal side effects

• Effective for both pain and function

• Complementary to physical therapy, chiropractic care, or medical treatment

Find Relief in Rockland County

Neck and arm pain can interfere with your work, sleep, and quality of life. At Orangetown Acupuncture in Orangeburg, NY, we combine modern understanding of nerve and muscle anatomy with the time-tested benefits of acupuncture to create personalized treatment plans.

Book your appointment today and take the first step toward moving freely and feeling better.

Book An Appointment

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References

1. Cleveland Clinic. Cervical Radiculopathy (Pinched Nerve in Neck). Accessed 2025.

2. Eubanks JD. Cervical Radiculopathy. StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023.

3. Zhao L, Chen J, Li Y, et al. Mechanisms of Acupuncture Effect on Pain in Cervical Radiculopathy: A Review. Front Neurosci. 2021;15:765765.

4. Liu Z, Liu L, Chen J, et al. Acupuncture Combined with Cervical Traction for Cervical Radiculopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019;98(13):e14981.

5. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Acupuncture: In Depth. Accessed 2025.