All About The C5-C6 Spinal Motion Segment - Spine-health

Common Symptoms and Signs Stemming from C5-C6

Vertebral and disc pain from C5-C6 may occur suddenly following an injury or gradually increase over a period of time. Typically, a dull ache or sharp pain may be felt at the back of the neck. The neck’s range of motion may also decrease. There may be crepitus (a snap, crackle, or pop sound) with neck movements.

See Neck Cracking and Grinding: What Does It Mean?

Compression or inflammation of the C6 spinal nerve is common3Binder AI. Cervical spondylosis and neck pain. BMJ. 2007;334(7592):527-31.,5Boyles R, Toy P, Mellon J, Hayes M, Hammer B. Effectiveness of manual physical therapy in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy: a systematic review. J Man Manip Ther. 2011;19(3):135-42. and may cause additional symptoms such as:

• Pain in the shoulder, upper arm, forearm, hand, thumb, and index finger; frequently aggravated by arm or neck movements.8Ngnitewe Massa R, Mesfin FB. Herniation, Disc. [Updated 2018 Oct 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2018 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441822/,9Radpasand M. Use of a multimodal conservative management protocol for the treatment of a patient with cervical radiculopathy. J Chiropr Med. 2011;10(1):36-46. Sometimes, the pain may also radiate from the neck into the arm.9Radpasand M. Use of a multimodal conservative management protocol for the treatment of a patient with cervical radiculopathy. J Chiropr Med. 2011;10(1):36-46.
• Numbness in the outer side of the forearm, thumb, and index finger.8Ngnitewe Massa R, Mesfin FB. Herniation, Disc. [Updated 2018 Oct 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2018 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441822/
• Weakness in the shoulder, elbow, and wrist, commonly affecting the motion of these joints.8Ngnitewe Massa R, Mesfin FB. Herniation, Disc. [Updated 2018 Oct 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2018 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441822/,10Seo TG, Kim du H, Kim IS, Son ES. Does C5 or C6 Radiculopathy Affect the Signal Intensity of the Brachial Plexus on Magnetic Resonance Neurography?. Ann Rehabil Med. 2016;40(2):362-7.

Symptoms may occur on one or both sides of the body.