Official documentation
Nerve root/radicular pain +/- radiculopathy
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Right Decisions (MSK Index), n.d.
Read the originalRead on October 16, 2026
- What it is
- Scottish NHS clinical guidance for nerve root pain in the neck, which lists the arm, shoulder-blade and dermatomal pain pattern and the neurological signs that go with it.
- How much weight it carries
- Official NHS clinical guidance written for clinicians, not patients. It gives the pattern to look for, not diagnostic accuracy figures. The page has no stated date in the copy we read.
Facts taken from this source
- Scottish NHS guidance lists restricted and painful neck movements among the signs of cervical radiculopathy, a pinched nerve in the neck.
“Signs of cervical radiculopathy may include postural changes (e.g. antalgic posture, torticollis fixed flexion or loss of normal lordosis) restricted and painful neck movements” (Diagnosis and presentation)
- Scottish NHS guidance says that in a nerve root problem in the neck the numbness is dermatomal, following a band of skin, and the weakness is myotomal, following a group of muscles.
“The numbness is dermatomal in distribution and the weakness is myotomal.” (Definition and presentation)
- Scottish NHS guidance describes nerve root pain in the neck as arm, shoulder-blade or dermatomal pain, with or without neurological signs.
“Unilateral or bilateral arm, scapula, periscapular or dermatomal pain +/- neuro signs - myotomal, dermatomal, reflexes changes.” (Warning and presentation)