Cervicobrachalgia is a pain in the arm that begins in the neck. When the root of a nerve is irritated or compressed in the neck, the symptoms follow the nerve’s path down the arm.
The pain associated with cervicobrachalgia can be sharp or diffuse and extend to the shoulder, arm and fingertips. It is usually described as a feeling of heaviness, numbness or tingling that increases when moving your arms above your head. The pain may only ever manifest in the arm without any pain in the neck.
Cervicobrachalgia can be caused by an accident, repetitive movements with your arms above your head, an awkward neck posture, or compression of the area above the collarbone (if you often carry a bag over your shoulder with a strap that is too thin, for example). It can be associated with a herniated disc, osteoarthritis or whiplash. Muscle tension in the neck or upper back can also contribute to the onset of symptoms.