Quick Summary
Cervical radiculopathy is irritation of a nerve root in the neck. It can cause pain, tingling, altered sensation or weakness in the arm or hand. Our physiotherapists in New Malden assess nerve function and daily activity, then help you plan suitable rehabilitation or medical review according to the findings.
What is Cervical Radiculopathy?
Nerves leave the neck and travel into the arm. Irritation near a nerve root can produce arm symptoms with or without much neck pain. This differs from pressure on the spinal cord, which may affect balance, hand coordination or both sides of the body. We check for these distinctions rather than treating all arm pain as muscular.
Your assessment at J&J Therapy looks at how symptoms affect your day, relevant health history, movement and strength. We explain the findings, agree priorities with you and advise when medical review or imaging would change your care.
Do You Experience These Symptoms?
- Pain spreading from the neck or shoulder into an arm.
- Tingling or numbness in part of the arm or hand.
- Reduced strength or grip; new or progressive weakness needs prompt assessment.
An assessment helps guide your next step, based on your symptoms, health and goals.
Why can it develop?
Disc changes, a disc herniation or age-related narrowing around a nerve can contribute. Symptoms can also overlap with shoulder problems or peripheral nerve conditions. A clinical examination helps decide whether an MRI or specialist opinion is needed.
Your treatment plan at J&J Therapy
Hands-On Manual Therapy
When safe, gentle treatment for associated neck stiffness or muscle guarding may support comfort. We avoid techniques that worsen nerve symptoms and do not claim to push a disc back into place.
Is Shockwave Suitable?
Shockwave is not used as a treatment for nerve-root compression. The priority is monitoring nerve function and choosing appropriate rehabilitation or referral.
Targeted Exercise Programme
Exercises are selected according to your examination and response. They may include comfortable movement and gradual strengthening; nerve-mobility exercises are only used when appropriate and should not provoke persistent symptoms.
When to Seek Urgent Medical Help
While most symptoms are not serious, urgent medical attention is required if you experience any of the following:
- Seek urgent medical advice through NHS 111 or an urgent GP appointment for new or increasing arm weakness, numbness, unsteady walking or clumsy hands.
- Attend A&E for new bladder or bowel control problems with neck or limb symptoms, or rapidly worsening neurological symptoms. Call 999 for a sudden severe headache with weakness, speech or vision changes.
- Arrange medical assessment after a significant injury, or for fever, unexplained weight loss or steadily worsening pain.
Your questions answered
Will I need surgery?
Many people improve with time and non-surgical care. Surgery is considered in selected cases, particularly with significant or progressing weakness or symptoms that remain disabling. Your GP or specialist can discuss the options.
Should I keep stretching the painful arm?
Not automatically. Strong stretching can aggravate some nerve symptoms. We assess which movements help and provide a tolerable plan, with instructions on what changes should prompt medical review.
Which appointment should I book?
For stable symptoms without the warning signs above, a Physiotherapy Initial Assessment can help assess nerve function and decide whether rehabilitation or medical review is appropriate. New or worsening weakness, coordination or walking problems need medical review first. Massage alone is not appropriate for unexplained nerve symptoms.
Book an appointment at J&J Therapy, ground floor, CI Tower, New Malden. Need help choosing? Call our reception team on 07935 869938.
Sources and further reading
This page is for general information only and does not replace professional medical advice.
Information updated 15 October 2026. General information only; this page does not diagnose your symptoms or replace an individual assessment. Treatment depends on your health, examination and preferences. Use the urgent-care advice above when needed.