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 | Spreads from the neck through the shoulder and down the whole arm | Localized to lateral (tennis) or medial (golf) elbow |
| Numbness | Entire arm, to specific fingers (C6: thumb and index, C7: middle and 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.
In a healthy arm, a load of 100 on the elbow causes no pain. But when a cervical disc slightly compresses the nerve, the nerve receives less nutrition, and now even a load of 50 brings on severe pain.
The elbow tissue itself is fine, yet the pain is severe, so treating only the elbow is ineffective.
Accurate Diagnosis Methods
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.
Nerve Distribution Check
If numbness is present, check which fingers it extends to. C6 affects thumb and index, C7 affects middle and ring fingers.
Nerve Mobility Test
Check mobility and tenderness along the radial or median nerve pathways.
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
References
- Childress MA, Becker BA. Nonoperative management of cervical radiculopathy. Am Fam Physician. 2016;93(9):746-754. PMID 27175952
- Thoomes EJ et al. The effectiveness of conservative treatment for patients with cervical radiculopathy: a systematic review. Clin J Pain. 2013;29(12):1073-1086.
- Coombes BK et al. A new integrative model of lateral epicondylalgia. Br J Sports Med. 2009;43(4):252-258. PMID 19050004
- Malanga G et al. Cervical disc pathology. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2011;22(3):447-463.
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