C5 Radiculopathy

C5 Radiculopathy

With radiculopathy involving C5, there typically is no pain distal to the elbow and no numbness or paresthesia in the hand. The patient generally reports cervical pain along with pain in the shoulder, medical border of the scapula, and upper arm. Paresthesia or numbness or both may be seen over the deltoid area and radial aspect of the upper arm. The biceps reflex may be decreased or absent, although this is less likely than with C6 radiculopathy. Motor loss involves shoulder abduction.