Cervical Radiculopathy = Pain down the arms from compression of the nerves in the neck
Many people suffer from neck pain and this can be from a wide variety of causes. The most common cause that neurosurgeons treat is from a condition known as cervical radiculopathy. The brain sends signals through nerves in the spinal cord that tell the arms and legs to move. These nerves also bring back sensory (pain) information to the brain. If the spinal cord become compressed in the neck this is known as cervical stenosis. If the nerves are compressed as they exit this is known as neuroforaminal stenosis. Either condition can result in pain radiating from the neck into the arms.
Your doctor will order an MRI of your cervical spine to determine the cause of your neck and arm pain.