Cervical Spondylosis: When Neck Pain Becomes Arm Numbness and Hand Weakness

Cervical disc bulges at C5-C6 or C6-C7 compress the exiting cervical nerve roots, sending sharp electric shocks down the shoulder, arm, forearm, and fingers. Patients frequently complain of dropping cups, difficulty buttoning shirts, or persistent numbness in the thumb and index finger.

A thorough clinical examination including Spurling’s test, reflex assessment, and motor power scoring helps correlate MRI findings with the patient’s exact neurological symptoms, ruling out peripheral nerve entrapments like carpal tunnel syndrome.

Rather than performing anterior fusion from the front of the neck (ACDF), posterior endoscopic foraminotomy widens the nerve exit hole from the back with a 5mm micro-burr, preserving complete neck motion and eliminating the need for bone grafts.