Neck Pain Shooting Down Your Arm? It Could Be a Pinched Nerve
It starts as a stiff neck. Then one day the pain shoots across your shoulder blade and down your arm. Your fingers tingle when you type, and you can't find a comfortable position to sleep. This is one of the most worrying kinds of neck pain, but it is also one of the most treatable.
What is cervical radiculopathy?
The nerves that supply your arm leave your spine through small openings in the neck. When one of these nerve roots is squeezed or irritated, the pain follows the nerve down the arm. Doctors call this cervical radiculopathy. Most people know it as a pinched nerve.
In younger adults it is usually caused by a disc bulge. In older adults it is often caused by age-related changes and bony spurs. It is most common between the ages of 40 and 50.
Common signs include:
- Neck pain with sharp or burning pain down one arm
- Pins and needles or numbness in the hand or fingers
- Weakness in the arm or grip
- Pain at the shoulder blade
- Pain that gets worse when you look up or turn your head to that side
The good news
Most people with a pinched nerve in the neck get better within weeks to months without surgery. The right treatment can speed up that recovery and reduce the chance it comes back.
How physiotherapy helps
Research shows that exercise has the most positive and lasting effect. Combining it with hands-on therapy and, in some cases, neck traction gives even better results. At Katasi Physiotherapy, your plan may include:
- Gentle neck movement exercises to calm the nerve
- Deep neck and shoulder blade strengthening
- Manual therapy and mechanical traction
- Posture and sleeping position advice
When to see a doctor urgently
Seek urgent medical care if you notice weakness that is getting worse, clumsiness in both hands, difficulty walking or balance problems.
Book your assessment
Don't wait for the tingling to become weakness. Book an assessment at Katasi Physiotherapy, Mogotio Road off Muthithi Road, Westlands. Call or WhatsApp 0705 717 353.
Source: Physiopedia – Cervical Radiculopathy
Book on WhatsAppRelated articles
Jaw Clicking, Jaw Pain and a Stiff Neck: How They're Connected
By Moses Katasi, Orthopaedic Physiotherapist · 6 October 2026
Does your jaw click when you yawn? Does it ache after chewing nyama choma, or feel tight when you wake up? Maybe you also get headaches around your temples and a stiff neck by evening. These problems often travel together, and there's a good reason why.
Read article →
Disc Bulge in the Neck: Do You Really Need Surgery?
By Moses Katasi, Orthopaedic Physiotherapist · 2 October 2026
Your MRI report says "disc bulge at C5–C6" and suddenly you're worried about surgery. Take a breath. A disc bulge in the neck sounds frightening, but most people recover well with the right care and never need an operation.
Read article →
Headaches That Start in Your Neck: Why Painkillers Aren't Working
By Moses Katasi, Orthopaedic Physiotherapist · 1 October 2026
Do your headaches start at the base of your skull and creep over to your forehead or behind one eye? Do they get worse after a long day at the laptop or a slow drive through Waiyaki Way traffic? If painkillers only give you a few hours of peace, your headache may not be a head problem at all. It may be coming from your neck.
Read article →