Cervical radiculopathy is frequently applied as an umbrella term for any radiating pain that occurs in the cervical spine. But while it’s easy to identify a specific type of pain to attach this moniker to, looking deeper at the underlying cause becomes much more difficult. Several critical conditions could be at the heart of cervical radiculopathy and addressing them means utilizing the full gamut of Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) tools.

Cervical Radiculopathy

At Ideal Spine Health Center, we leverage CBP to delve beyond cervical radiculopathy as a catchall. Patients who may have been generally diagnosed by other chiropractors in Boise, ID seek our methodical evaluations to yield real insight into what’s actually causing them pain. And, more than just identifying the cause, we work to treat it with an approach that’s just as refined.

A close-up on the cervical spine

Cervical nerves are among the most important in the body. The nerves exiting from C1 to C7 are responsible for controlling everything from breathing to heartbeat and beyond. Needless to say, subluxations occurring here offer immediate and frequently severe consequences. And, while radiating pain may wash over this entire segment of the spine, assessing its origins means understanding the nature of the misalignment.

Chiefly, there’s one of three main culprits at the heart of a cervical radiculopathy diagnosis:

  • Herniated or bulging disc: Discs pressing on cervical nerves can cause widespread pain and nerve signal interruption.
  • Spinal stenosis: Compression of the spine and its nerve pathways will restrict proper nerve flow to the rest of the body.
  • Disc degeneration: Ruptured or deteriorated discs cause severe subluxations that compress nerves and cause inflammation.

Initial radiological imaging and a thorough physical examination can inspire an educated assessment by CBP-trained chiropractors. From here, assessing the extent of the damage and coordinating an approach to alleviate the pain is essential. Without radiological imaging and a complete physical assessment, in conjunction with an assessment of total-body symptoms, coordinating a diagnosis can never truly exceed a guess.

Tracking and restoring cervical spine health

CBP’s reliance on mirror image adjustments and an incremental plan for improvement allows patients to gauge improvements with the approach. This not only builds confidence in chiropractic, it helps chiropractors discern what improvements are occurring, as well as where adaptive changes might be needed to facilitate a return to wellness.

In the case of a herniating disc, for example, a CBP chiropractor may outline 12 total adjustments to return the cervical spine to its ideal curvature, with assessments after three, six, and nine adjustments. As these milestones are met, provision can be made based on progress and patient feedback. Or, if the plan is proceeding properly, qualified results can be presented to the patient to show change over time.

Leave nothing to chance

Cervical radiculopathy is a broad term and its diagnosis leaves a lot to be pondered. CBP shines a light on this diagnosis to provide a bottom-line definition of why the pain is occurring and what may be done to absolve it.

To learn more about cervical radiculopathy as a symptom instead of a diagnosis, consult with professionals at Ideal Spine Health Center in Boise, ID today. We believe in digging deeper, to leave nothing to chance when it comes to providing targeted, tailored treatments. We leverage CBP to give our patients the best results possible.

Chiropractic BioPhysics, or CBP, is one of the most scientific, researched, and results-oriented corrective care techniques. CBP-trained chiropractors aim to realign the spine back to health, eliminating nerve interference and addressing the source of pain, fatigue, and disease. As with all chiropractic care, CBP is gentle, painless, and non-invasive.