Unpinched: How to Beat Cervical Radiculopathy and Move Freely Again

Atomic Pilates & Chiropractic, Bluffdale, UT

The Pain That Won't Let You Live Your Life

If you're reading this, I'm guessing you're dealing with pain that shoots from your neck down into your shoulder, arm, maybe even your fingers. Sharp. Burning. Electric.

And it's not just the pain—it's everything it steals from you.

You can't sleep through the night. Can't do basic household tasks without stopping. Can't pick up your kids or grandkids without that searing reminder that something's really wrong. You keep asking yourself, "What did I do?" or "Why won't this just go away?"

Look, I've been treating this exact condition for nearly 18 years here in the South Valley, and I need you to know something right up front: You're not broken. You're not stuck with this. And you don't have to just "manage" the pain for the rest of your life.

That shooting pain has a name—cervical radiculopathy—and here's the truth: it responds incredibly well to the right treatment approach. Not just temporary relief. Real, lasting improvement.

What Is Cervical Radiculopathy? (And Why Does It Hurt So Much?)

Here's the technical term: cervical radiculopathy. But honestly? It's a pinched nerve in your neck—and it's as miserable as it sounds.

Here's what's happening: Your spine has vertebrae stacked on top of each other with soft, shock-absorbing discs between them. Nerves exit through small openings and travel down your arms. When a disc bulges, a bone spur develops, or inflammation builds up, it can compress one of those nerves.

That pressure doesn't just stay in your neck. The nerve gets irritated along its entire pathway. That's why you feel pain, tingling, or weakness traveling down your arm. That's why turning your head a certain way sends an electric shock down to your hand.

Your body's not malfunctioning—it's sending you a very clear message that something needs attention.

What You're Probably Feeling Right Now

Let me describe what I hear from patients every single week who come in from Bluffdale, Saratoga Springs, Herriman, Riverton, and South Jordan:

Radiating Pain — Sharp, burning, or electrical sensations into your shoulder, elbow, forearm, or hand. One patient told me it felt like someone was running a hot knife down her arm.

Numbness & Tingling — That "pins and needles" feeling, or parts of your hand going completely numb. You might drop things without meaning to.

Muscle Weakness — Your grip isn't what it used to be. Your arm feels heavy. You struggle with simple tasks like opening jars or holding your phone.

Positional Pain — Everything's worse when you look down at your phone, extend your neck back, or sleep in the wrong position. You find yourself holding your head in weird positions just to get relief.

That Deep, Tired Ache — Even when the sharp pain backs off, there's this exhausting, dull ache because your neck muscles are working overtime trying to guard the area.

If you're nodding along to these, you're not alone. We see this every single day.

My Sister Couldn't Use Her Arm

I want to tell you about a patient who drove four hours to see me because she was desperate.

Actually, full disclosure—it was my sister. And yes, it's a little awkward when family members are in that much pain and you're the one they're counting on.

She'd been dealing with cervical radiculopathy for months. Could barely use her arm. Any movement—reaching for something, carrying groceries, even brushing her hair—triggered excruciating pain that would drop her to her knees. She wasn't sleeping. She couldn't do basic household chores. Taking care of her family felt impossible.

She tried physical therapy first. It actually seemed to make things worse.

So she came and stayed with us for a week. We did intensive treatment—decompression, adjustments, muscle work, the whole approach. Within that week, she had significant relief. Not perfect, but she could function again. She could sleep. She could use her arm without wanting to cry.

If she could've stayed longer, we would've taken care of it completely. But even in that short time, we changed her life.

I'm telling you this because I want you to understand: this isn't a condition you have to live with. Even severe cases respond when you treat the actual problem, not just the symptoms.

What You Can Try Right Now (But Know Your Limits)

Because I believe movement is medicine, here are some things you can do at home for mild, intermittent pain:

Fix Your Posture — Bring your phone up to eye level instead of looking down at it all day. Keep your ears stacked over your shoulders. When you're at your computer, make sure the screen is directly in front of you, not off to the side where you're twisted.

Seriously—I can't tell you how many people I see who have their monitor off to one side and wonder why their neck is killing them.

Ice for Acute Pain, Heat for Stiffness — If it's sharp and recent, ice it (15-20 minutes, several times a day). If it's chronic and achy, heat helps more.

Gentle Movement — If slowly tucking your chin and pulling your head back (cervical retraction) gives you relief, do that periodically. If light, careful extension helps, great. But—and this is critical—if any movement increases the pain or sends it further down your arm, STOP. Your body's telling you it needs professional help.

Sleep Position Matters — Stomach sleeping is the worst thing you can do. Use a supportive pillow that keeps your head aligned with your spine. Not too high, not too flat.

Here's what I need you to understand: these home strategies work for mild cases. If you've been dealing with this for weeks or months, if it's affecting your sleep or your ability to function, if you've tried these things and you're still suffering—it's time to get help.

Don't be a hero. I see too many people who wait months, letting it get worse and worse, because they think it'll just go away on its own.

Why Most Treatment Fails (And What Actually Works)

I'm not a typical chiropractor.

I spent almost two decades figuring out why some people get better and stay better, while others keep coming back every few months with the same problem.

Here's what I learned: If you only adjust the spine, you're only treating half the problem.

I grew up in a family of physical therapists—uncle, five cousins, sister-in-law, all PTs. My goal from day one was to combine the best of both worlds: chiropractic and rehab. I consider myself more of a sports chiropractor because I treat your body like an athlete's body—something that needs to move well, not just feel good temporarily.

About eight years ago, my wife became a Pilates instructor. We kept referring patients to each other and realized we were onto something. People who combined chiropractic care with Pilates-based movement got better faster and stayed better longer. So we created Atomic Pilates & Chiropractic.

Here's my treatment philosophy in one sentence: Get you out of pain fast, then build the strength and stability so it doesn't come back.

What Treatment Actually Looks Like Here

Every case is different, but here's what a typical treatment plan might include:

Spinal Decompression — Gentle traction that takes pressure off the compressed nerve root. This isn't medieval torture—it's actually quite comfortable and often provides immediate relief.

Chiropractic Adjustments — Specific, targeted adjustments to restore proper movement and alignment in your cervical spine. Not the aggressive cracking you might be worried about.

Muscle Release & Activation — Releasing the tight, guarding muscles that are making everything worse, then activating the weak muscles that aren't doing their job.

Fascial Release Techniques — Addressing the connective tissue restrictions that develop around chronic pain patterns.

Active Rehab & Pilates Integration — Once the acute pain calms down, we rebuild your foundation. This is where the magic happens. We use Pilates-based movements to strengthen your deep postural muscles and core stability. This creates lasting protection.

My visits are longer than typical chiropractic appointments—usually about 45 minutes when we're doing comprehensive treatment. That's intentional. I'm not trying to cram as many people in as possible. I want to actually fix the problem.

What to Expect: The Honest Timeline

"How long until I feel better?"

Everyone asks this. And I'm going to give you the most honest answer I can.

It depends.

I know that's not what you want to hear, but here's why: recovery time depends on how long you've been dealing with this, how severe it is, what other treatments you've tried, and—this is huge—what you're willing to do outside my office.

The patients who recover fastest are the ones who make real changes. I'm talking about:

  • Actually lifting their phone to eye level instead of staring down at it
  • Fixing their workstation setup so they're not twisted toward their monitor
  • Doing their home exercises consistently
  • Being willing to modify activities that keep irritating the nerve

If you do everything I suggest? Most people see 50% improvement within two weeks.

Getting to 80-90% better? That usually takes 2-3 months.

The sooner you come in after symptoms start, the faster the recovery. Every week you wait, you're letting inflammation build, muscles compensate, and the problem get more ingrained.

The Money Question (Because You're Wondering)

I don't take insurance.

I know that might make you hesitate, but here's why: insurance companies are incredibly restrictive about what they'll cover and how many visits they'll approve. The insurance model basically forces chiropractors to see as many patients as possible, as quickly as possible.

That's not how you fix cervical radiculopathy.

Here's what I do instead: I offer a free consultation and pain assessment. We talk. I examine you. I determine if I can actually help you. No charge for that.

If I believe I can help, we move to a comprehensive initial exam and first treatment. Normally I charge $160 for the exam and $80 for treatment. Right now, I'm doing all of that for $99.

Will it cost more than doing nothing? Yes. Will it be cheaper than surgery? Absolutely. Will it be cheaper than repeated steroid injections that only give temporary relief? Probably. Will it be cheaper than months of treatments that don't address the root cause? Definitely.

And honestly, most patients tell me it costs less than they expected—especially when they realize how much money they've already wasted on things that didn't work.

When You Need Help NOW

Call or seek medical attention immediately if you notice:

  • Constant, unrelenting pain with no comfortable position
  • Significant weakness in your arm or hand (can't lift, can't grip)
  • Symptoms in both arms
  • Any change in bladder or bowel control (this is a medical emergency—go to the ER)

These are signs something more serious might be happening and you need immediate evaluation.

Why I Do This Work

I'm a former collegiate cross-country and track athlete. I still run and work out regularly. I try to get into the mountains at least once a week.

I know what it's like to have your body fail you when you're trying to do the things you love.

What I love most about this work is taking time with patients to really understand them. Not just their symptoms, but what their pain is keeping them from doing. What matters to them. What they're trying to get back to.

Is it holding your grandkids without wincing? Getting back to the gym? Sleeping through the night? Working at your computer without constant breaks? Just feeling like yourself again?

That's what we're really treating. Not just a pinched nerve—we're helping you reclaim your life.

You Don't Have to Do This Alone

For everyone in Bluffdale, Saratoga Springs, Herriman, Riverton, Draper, and South Jordan who's been suffering with neck and arm pain—I want you to know something:

You don't have to be tough and push through this. You don't have to try another month of "wait and see." You don't have to accept this as your new normal.

My wife and I moved to Saratoga Springs in 2020, and when we were looking for the right place to open our studio, Bluffdale felt like home. We love this community. We love treating the people here who are finally ready to put themselves first after years of taking care of everyone else.

Here's what happens next:

Call us for a free consultation. We'll talk about what you're experiencing. I'll be straight with you about whether I think I can help. If I can, we'll create a plan together.

No pressure. No endless treatment plans. Just honest assessment and a clear path forward.

You can heal. You can get stronger. You can move freely again.

Let's get started.