Neck to shoulder or arm
Arm pain, tingling or numbness can occur with an irritated nerve root in the neck; neck pain may also be present.
What may be involved
Cervical nerve roots; symptoms can overlap shoulder, elbow or wrist problems.
Cervical radiculopathy is a clinical diagnosis. A clinician checks sensation, strength, reflexes and the pattern of symptoms; location alone cannot identify the affected root.
Practical next steps
- Keep comfortable everyday movement while arranging assessment for persistent or worsening symptoms.
- Support the arm when resting and vary positions during desk work.
- Record whether symptoms spread, settle or affect hand strength.
Movement, stretches & rehabilitation
After assessment, physiotherapy may use gentle neck movement, shoulder control and progressive strengthening. Use the illustrated NHS guide for the specific movement and range agreed with your clinician.
Do not force neck stretches or repeatedly provoke tingling with a self-test. Avoid heavy overhead work that worsens symptoms until your plan is clear.
When to seek review
New hand clumsiness, unsteady walking, weakness in more than one limb or bowel/bladder change needs prompt medical assessment; rapid deterioration is an emergency.
Open Bexley NHS MSK physiotherapy guideSource-based educational summary by The Strong Table, checked 30 September 2026. The linked service is the original clinical publisher; our site is not a physiotherapy service and these summaries have not been individually approved by that service.
