15/07/2025
What’s Happening Here:
• C7 Nerve Root: This nerve exits the spinal cord at the 7th cervical vertebra (C7), which is part of the neck.
• Pathway: The nerve travels from the neck, down through the shoulder, and continues along the back of the upper arm, forearm, and sometimes into the middle finger.
• Red Area: The shaded red region in the image represents the pain pathway or distribution of symptoms (pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness) when the C7 nerve is compressed or irritated — often referred to as radiculopathy.
Common Causes of a Pinched C7 Nerve:
• Herniated disc
• Degenerative disc disease
• Bone spurs (osteophytes)
• Spinal stenosis
• Trauma or poor posture
Symptoms of C7 Radiculopathy:
• Pain that radiates from the neck to the back of the arm and into the middle finger
• Triceps weakness
• Decreased triceps reflex
• Possible numbness/tingling in the middle finger
