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i have pain in.my right upper back and when i moving my head right it gives more pain and some time pain.extends to.right arm till.elbow

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"cervical radiculopathy" AND management

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NHS cervical radiculopathy arm pain neck movement red flags

Pain in the upper back/neck area that worsens when you turn your head and travels into the arm can happen with a neck muscle or joint strain, but it can also reflect irritation of a nerve in the neck, often called cervical radiculopathy. This commonly causes pain around the shoulder blade that may run down the arm, and neck movement can aggravate it. AAFP overview
Because your pain extends to the elbow, arrange an in-person assessment with a clinician or physiotherapist soon, especially if it is not improving over a few days.
Get urgent medical care now if you have any of these:
  • New or worsening weakness in the arm/hand, dropping things, marked numbness, or loss of coordination
  • Trouble walking, balance problems, or new bladder/bowel control problems
  • Fever, unexplained weight loss, severe constant/night pain, recent significant injury, cancer history, or immune suppression
  • Chest pressure/pain, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, or pain spreading to jaw or either arm
Until assessed:
  • Avoid heavy lifting, forceful neck twisting, and prolonged bent-neck phone/computer posture.
  • Keep the neck gently moving within a comfortable range rather than holding it completely still.
  • Use heat or ice for 15-20 minutes at a time, whichever feels better.
  • If safe for you, a usual over-the-counter pain reliever can help. Avoid anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen/naproxen if you have stomach ulcers/bleeding, kidney disease, are on blood thinners, or have been told not to take them.
If you tell me when this started, whether there is tingling/numbness or weakness, and whether there was an injury, I can help you judge how urgent it is.

How can I tell muscle strain from a pinched neck nerve?

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"cervical radiculopathy" AND diagnosis

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cervical radiculopathy symptoms muscle strain differentiate clinical guidance

These can overlap, and you cannot confirm the cause at home, but the pattern often helps:
More like a muscle strain/spasmMore like a pinched neck nerve
Aching, tight, sore, or knot-like pain in the neck, upper shoulder, or shoulder bladeSharp, burning, electric, shooting pain that starts in the neck/shoulder blade and travels down one arm
Pain is usually localized or diffuse, not in a consistent linePain often follows a strip-like route into the shoulder, arm, forearm, hand, or specific fingers
A tender spot or tight band in the muscle reproduces the pain when pressedTingling, pins-and-needles, numbness, or altered sensation are more suggestive
Pain with certain movements or posture, but arm strength and sensation stay normalSymptoms often worsen when looking up or turning the head toward the painful side
Improves gradually with relative rest, heat, gentle movementMay include weakness, reduced grip, difficulty pushing/lifting, or changes in reflexes
Your description, pain made worse by turning your head right and extending down the right arm to the elbow, is more suggestive of irritation of a nerve from the neck than a simple isolated upper-back muscle strain, although muscle spasm can occur alongside it. Cervical nerve-root irritation can cause one-sided neck, shoulder-blade, and arm pain with sensory symptoms or weakness. Clinical overview
Do not forcefully test this by pushing on the top of your head or repeatedly twisting your neck. A clinician can assess arm strength, sensation, reflexes, and specific movements safely.
Get assessed urgently today if you notice arm/hand weakness, worsening numbness, clumsy hands, trouble walking/balance, fever, severe unrelenting pain, or bladder/bowel changes. Otherwise, make a routine appointment soon if it persists, worsens, or is not clearly improving over 1-2 weeks.

What are excercise to make it well

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"cervical radiculopathy" AND exercise

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NHS cervical radiculopathy exercises neck arm pain physiotherapy

Because your pain travels into the arm, keep exercises gentle. The goal is to reduce stiffness and keep movement, not to stretch through sharp or spreading arm pain.
Stop an exercise if pain travels farther down the arm, tingling/numbness increases, or you notice weakness. A little local neck or upper-back discomfort is acceptable if it settles soon afterward and you are not worse the next day.

Try this 2-4 times daily

  1. Chin tuck
    • Sit tall, looking straight ahead.
    • Gently draw your chin straight backward, like making a double chin. Do not look down.
    • Hold 3 seconds, relax.
    • Do 5 repetitions.
  2. Gentle neck turns
    • Slowly turn your head left and right only as far as comfortable.
    • Keep your chin level.
    • Pause 2-3 seconds each side.
    • Do 5 repetitions each way.
    • Since turning right worsens your symptoms, use a smaller right turn. Do not push into the painful end range.
  3. Neck side-bend
    • Slowly bring your left ear toward your left shoulder, without raising the shoulder.
    • Return to center, then gently try the right side.
    • Hold 5 seconds each side.
    • Do 3-5 repetitions.
    • Again, keep the right-side movement small if it sends pain down your arm.
  4. Shoulder-blade squeezes
    • Sit or stand tall with arms relaxed.
    • Gently draw the shoulder blades slightly back and down, as if putting them in your back pockets.
    • Do not shrug.
    • Hold 5 seconds.
    • Do 8-10 repetitions.
  5. Shoulder rolls
    • Roll both shoulders slowly backward in a circle.
    • Do 10 repetitions, then rest.
  6. Short walks and posture breaks
    • Every 30-60 minutes of sitting, stand up and walk or move for 2-3 minutes.
    • Keep phone and computer screens nearer eye level. Avoid long periods with your head bent forward.
A home programme should not increase arm pain. Guidance from physical therapists advises starting gentle neck movement and delaying stronger neck/arm exercises until the pain is no longer travelling down the arm. ChoosePT guidance and NICE guidance support physiotherapy that includes appropriate stretching and strengthening.
Avoid for now
  • Forceful neck stretching or cracking/manipulation
  • Heavy gym lifting, overhead pressing, pull-ups, or carrying heavy bags on that shoulder
  • Repeatedly checking painful neck movements
  • Any exercise that causes electric pain, numbness, or pain farther down the arm
Arrange a physiotherapy or clinician assessment if it is persistent or worsening. Seek urgent care if you develop arm/hand weakness, increasing numbness, clumsy hands, walking/balance trouble, fever, or bladder/bowel symptoms.
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