Objective: This case presents the successful evidence-based diagnosis and treatment of a patient with cervical radiculopathy in a chiropractic setting.
Clinical Features: Cervical radiculopathy is a common and sometimes severe neuromusculoskeletal condition that is reported to affect about 2 out of every 1000 individuals and is most commonly diagnosed during the 4th and 5th decades of life. A 33-year-old male presented with persistent neck and left arm pain over the last 2 months. He had consulted with an orthopedic surgeon who recommended immediate surgical intervention.
Interventions: The patient elected to exhaust conservative measures prior to pursuing surgery. History and examination were consistent with cervical radiculopathy. Red flags were ruled out and there were no neurologic deficits other than those associated with cervical radiculopathy. A trial of chiropractic care was provided and included: manual traction of the cervical spine, pin and stretch, trigger point therapy, home strengthening and stretching activities, and low-level-laser therapy.
Outcome: The patient reported moderate relief immediately following the first visit; after a total of 5 visits over 3 weeks the patient rated his pain at 0/10 on an 11-point numeric rating scale and reported feeling “normal”. A three year follow up revealed that the patient has been able to successfully adhere to his home exercise plan and has not needed further medical care for his condition.
Author keywords: Chiropractic; Manipulation, Chiropractic; Radiculopathy; Case Report; Neck; Neck Injuries; Spine; Conservative Treatment; Orthopedics; Intervertebral Disc
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