How to Distinguish Cervical Disc from Elbow Pain?

How to Distinguish Cervical Disc from Elbow Pain?

83% of elbow pain patients have neurological causes originating from the neck (cervical spine). Cervical disc (C6-C7 nerve root) can almost perfectly mimic tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow symptoms. Accurate diagnosis is crucial.

Cervical Disc vs Elbow Tendon Problem: Symptom Comparison

Criteria Cervical Disc (C6-C7 Nerve Root) Tennis/Golfer’s Elbow
Pain Location Neck → Shoulder → Spreads along entire arm Localized to lateral (tennis) or medial (golf) elbow
Numbness Entire arm, to specific fingers (C6: thumb/index, C7: middle/ring) No numbness, or limited to wrist area if present
Muscle Weakness Wrist weakness (C6: extensors, C7: flexors) Normal strength, only weak grip due to pain
Neck Movement Arm pain worsens when tilting neck back or turning Unrelated to neck movement
Worsening Time Worse at night, affected by pillow height When gripping objects or using wrist

What Is “Double Crush Syndrome”?

When a nerve is slightly compressed at the neck, the elbow area becomes much more sensitive to mechanical stress.

Normal person:

  • 100 load on elbow → No pain

Person with cervical disc:

  • Slight nerve compression at neck → Reduced neural nutrition
  • Only 50 load on elbow → Severe pain perceived

Result: Elbow tissue is fine but pain is severe → Treating only the elbow is ineffective

Accurate Diagnosis Methods

1

Neck Examination

If elbow or arm pain is reproduced when tilting the neck back or turning it toward the patient’s side, it’s likely pain originating from the neck.

2

Nerve Distribution Check

If numbness is present, check which fingers it extends to. C6 affects thumb/index, C7 affects middle/ring fingers.

3

Nerve Mobility Test

Check mobility and tenderness along the radial or median nerve pathways.

4

Response to Cervical Mobilization

If elbow pain decreases immediately after neck treatment, the neck is likely the cause.

Both may coexist

Cervical disc and elbow tendon problems often occur together. In this case, both must be treated for complete recovery.

Integrated Circulation Therapy

We treat both neck and elbow together.

  • Circulation HD:
    • Release adhesions around cervical nerve roots
    • Improve circulation in elbow tendon area
    • Reduce nerve sensitivity
  • Circulation PT:
    • Correct neck alignment
    • Nerve gliding exercises
    • Restore elbow shock absorption capacity

Related Questions

Want to Find the Exact Cause of Your Elbow Pain?

We comprehensively examine neck, shoulder, and elbow.

Book Online