How to Treat Cervical Radiculopathy Due to Bone Spurs

Cervical radiculopathy is essentially a pinched nerve due to some sort of pressure along the cervical spine, which consists of the first seven vertebrae starting at the base of the skull and making up the entirety of a person's neck. In the case of bone spurs, this pressure will most likely be a result of degeneration. Sometimes when a person experiences degeneration along this area of the body, a bone spur will eventually form. As the bone spur gets bigger, it can begin to place pressure on the nerve until it becomes irritated and inflamed. This could then prompt a physical reaction in any area of the body where this nerve would be found, including the neck, shoulder, arm or even hand. Some people will feel pain or numbness. Others may feel weakness or lessened reflexes. It really varies from person to person how cervical radiculopathy will affect them. While the symptoms and their intensity may be different in everyone, most people will treat this condition in relatively the same way.

Things You'll Need

• Cervical collar
• Over-the-counter pain reliever
• Prescription pain medication

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Instructions

• 1

  Consult your doctor. To properly treat cervical radiculopathy, you should first set up an appointment with your doctor. He can establish which nerve is being affected by the bone spur and determine the appropriate method of treatment.

• 2

  Invest in a "cervical collar," which is a padded device that wraps around your neck to immobilize movement. When the neck is kept still for one to two weeks, the affected nerve can see a decrease in inflammation, which would lessen both irritation and pain.

• 3

  Start using an over-the-counter pain reliever, like ibuprofen or aspirin. Both nonprescription medications can help alleviate some of the pain you are experiencing and can often be used with other medications for pain relief. Of course, talk to your doctor before mixing any medications.

• 4

  Get a prescription for a mild pain medication. Though medications won't necessarily cure cervical radiculopathy, they can, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, reduce inflammation and help treat pain, which is an important part of treatment for this condition.

• 5

  Talk to your doctor about epidural steroid injections. Some people with cervical radiculopathy will really benefit from steroid injections, as it will work as a "nerve blocker," causing the pain to lessen.

• 6

  Have the bone spur removed through surgery. While most people will see positive results through the treatment already described, some individuals may need to go through surgery to have the bone spur removed.