Trapped Nerve in the Neck (Cervical Radiculopathy) in Dubai
Who you'll see
Dr Sherief Elsayed
Consultant Spinal Surgeon, FRCS (Tr & Orth), UK-trained
Medically reviewed by Dr Sherief Elsayed, UK-trained Consultant Spinal Surgeon, FRCS (Tr & Orth). Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
A trapped nerve in the neck (cervical radiculopathy) happens when a nerve root is pressed on or irritated where it leaves the spine in the neck. It usually causes pain that spreads from the neck into the shoulder blade, arm or hand, often with pins and needles, numbness or weakness. Most cases settle without an operation. This page explains the symptoms, when to see a spinal surgeon, treatment without surgery and when surgery helps. Dr Sherief Elsayed assesses and treats trapped nerves in the neck in Dubai, and performs ACDF and cervical disc replacement when an operation is needed.
At a glance
- Most trapped nerves in the neck get better: in a population study of 561 people, 90% had no symptoms or only mild ones at follow-up, and 26% had an operation over about 5 years (Radhakrishnan et al., 1994).
- See a spinal surgeon if arm pain is severe or not settling after several weeks, if your arm or hand is weak, or if your hands become clumsy or your walking unsteady.
- Treatment starts without surgery: time, pain relief, physiotherapy and staying active. Where appropriate, Dr Elsayed can refer you for a nerve root injection in the neck.
- When an operation is needed, the usual options are ACDF and cervical disc replacement. In a randomised trial, 93% of people who had ACDF with physiotherapy rated themselves better or much better 5 to 8 years later, against 62% after physiotherapy alone (Engquist et al., 2017).
What is a trapped nerve in the neck?
The neck (cervical spine) has seven vertebrae, with a disc between each pair. A pair of nerve roots leaves the spinal canal at each level and runs down into the arm. A nerve root can be pressed on by:
- a slipped (prolapsed) disc, when part of the disc bulges or splits and presses on the nerve;
- wear and tear (spondylosis), when bony spurs and a thickened, worn disc narrow the opening the nerve passes through (foraminal stenosis).
In the population study above, 68% of cases were related to wear and tear, a slipped disc or both, and the nerves most often affected were C7 and then C6 (Radhakrishnan et al., 1994). Less often, the cause is an injury, an infection or a growth, which is one reason a proper assessment matters.
Symptoms
- Pain spreading from the neck into the shoulder blade, arm, forearm or hand, usually on one side.
- Pins and needles or numbness in part of the arm or hand. The pattern often shows which nerve is involved.
- Weakness of particular muscles, for example in the shoulder, elbow or grip.
- Pain that is worse when you tilt or turn your head, or look up.
A trapped nerve is not the same as pressure on the spinal cord (cervical myelopathy). Spinal cord pressure tends to cause clumsy or numb hands, difficulty with buttons or writing, and unsteady walking, often without much pain. It needs prompt assessment: an international guideline recommends surgery for moderate and severe myelopathy (Fehlings et al., 2017). More on cervical myelopathy.
Who should I see, and when?
If the pain is bearable and you have no weakness, it is reasonable to start with your family doctor or a physiotherapist, because most trapped nerves settle.
See a spinal surgeon, such as Dr Sherief Elsayed, if:
- arm pain is severe, or is not improving after several weeks of non-surgical treatment;
- your arm or hand is weak, or the weakness is getting worse;
- numbness is spreading, or you have symptoms in both arms;
- the problem keeps coming back and affects your work or sleep (in the population study, it recurred in about a third of people, 31.7% (Radhakrishnan et al., 1994));
- you have signs of spinal cord pressure: clumsy hands, difficulty with fine tasks, or unsteady walking.
Dr Elsayed is a UK-trained Consultant Spinal Surgeon, FRCS (Tr & Orth). He sees patients at OrthoPro Clinic, Dubai Science Park, and at UPANDRUNNING on Al Wasl Road. You do not need a scan to book; please bring any MRI images and reports you already have. Some insurance plans need a referral or pre-approval: OrthoPro reception can check your cover.
Assessment and tests
Dr Elsayed will ask about your symptoms and examine the strength, reflexes and feeling in your arms and legs, and your hand function and walking. Tests may include:
- MRI scan: shows the discs, nerve roots and spinal cord, and is the main scan for a trapped nerve.
- X-rays, including views taken bending forwards and backwards, to check alignment and movement.
- CT scan: shows bony spurs clearly.
- Nerve conduction studies: when symptoms could come from a nerve trapped in the arm instead, such as carpal tunnel syndrome at the wrist.
Treatment without surgery
Most people are treated without an operation:
- Time and reassurance: in the population study, 90% had no symptoms or only mild ones at follow-up (Radhakrishnan et al., 1994).
- Pain relief, as advised by your doctor or pharmacist.
- Physiotherapy: exercises for the neck and shoulders, posture advice and strategies for coping with pain. In the randomised trial, people treated with physiotherapy alone also improved (Engquist et al., 2017).
- Staying active, with short-term changes to activities that make the arm pain worse.
- A nerve root injection in the neck: where appropriate, Dr Elsayed can refer you for one. He does not perform nerve root injections in the neck himself.
When surgery helps
An operation is considered when arm pain remains severe or disabling despite non-surgical treatment, when weakness is significant or getting worse, or when the spinal cord is also under pressure. The aim is to take the pressure off the nerve.
- ACDF (anterior cervical discectomy and fusion): the disc and any bony spurs are removed through a small cut at the front of the neck, and the two vertebrae are joined.
- Cervical disc replacement: the disc is removed in the same way, but an artificial disc keeps the level moving. It suits fewer necks, usually one or two levels with healthy joints and good bone. The two are compared on ACDF or cervical disc replacement?
- Operations from the back of the neck, such as laminectomy and fusion, when the pressure lies behind the spinal cord or along several levels. These are described on cervical spine surgeries.
What to expect: in the randomised trial, ACDF with physiotherapy reduced neck disability and neck pain more than physiotherapy alone at 5 to 8 years, and 93% of people who had surgery rated themselves better or much better, against 62%. The difference in arm pain between the groups was not statistically significant (Engquist et al., 2017).
Dr Elsayed performs ACDF and cervical disc replacement at American Hospital Dubai (Oud Metha and Dubai Science Park) and Emirates Hospital Jumeirah. Most people stay one night in hospital, do not need a collar, and return to desk work and driving after about 2 weeks.
Symptoms that need urgent care
Call 998 (UAE ambulance) or go to the nearest emergency department straight away if you have:
- sudden or rapidly worsening weakness in an arm or a leg;
- weakness or numbness in both arms, or in your legs, or difficulty walking;
- loss of bladder or bowel control;
- neck pain with fever, after a significant injury, or with a history of cancer.
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Your consultation with Dr Sherief Elsayed
Dr Sherief Elsayed is a UK-trained Consultant Spinal Surgeon, FRCS (Tr & Orth), whose clinical work covers complex and revision spinal surgery, deformity, minimally invasive surgery and endoscopy. He will examine you, review your MRI or arrange one, and explain whether non-surgical treatment, a referral for an injection, or an operation suits your neck. He performs both ACDF and cervical disc replacement, so the advice you receive is not limited to one operation. You can take time to decide or seek another opinion.
He sees patients at OrthoPro Clinic, Dubai Science Park, and at UPANDRUNNING on Al Wasl Road. To book, call OrthoPro Clinic on 04 835 9000, send a WhatsApp message to 052 105 2798, or use the contact page. Fees depend on the procedure and your insurance; OrthoPro reception can check your cover and any pre-approval. Most major insurance accepted. Please check with reception.
Frequently asked questions
If the pain is bearable and your arm is not weak, start with your family doctor or a physiotherapist. See a spinal surgeon if the pain is severe or not settling after several weeks, if your arm or hand is weak, or if your hands become clumsy or your walking unsteady. Dr Sherief Elsayed, a UK-trained Consultant Spinal Surgeon, sees patients at OrthoPro Clinic, Dubai Science Park, and at UPANDRUNNING on Al Wasl Road.
It varies. Many people improve over weeks to months without an operation. In a population study, 90% had no symptoms or only mild ones at follow-up, although the problem came back in about a third (Radhakrishnan et al., 1994).
Not always at first. An MRI is usually arranged if symptoms are severe, are not settling, or if there is weakness or any sign of spinal cord pressure, and before any injection or operation.
Most people do not. In the population study, 26% had an operation over about 5 years (Radhakrishnan et al., 1994). Surgery is considered when pain stays severe despite non-surgical treatment, when weakness is significant or getting worse, or when the spinal cord is also under pressure.
No. A trapped nerve affects one nerve root and mainly causes arm symptoms. Myelopathy is pressure on the spinal cord itself, which can cause clumsy hands and unsteady walking, and needs prompt assessment (Fehlings et al., 2017).
Usually yes, with changes to anything that makes the arm pain worse for now. What suits your job and your sport is discussed at your consultation.