Most patients with cervical radiculopathy have a favorable prognosis.1,6 A large epidemiologic study demonstrated that over a five-year follow-up period, 31.7 percent of patients with symptomatic cervical radiculopathy had symptom recurrence and 26 percent needed surgical intervention for intractable pain, sensory deficit, or objective weakness.1 At final follow-up, however, nearly 90 percent of patients were asymptomatic or only mildly incapacitated by the pain.
The classic study of the natural history of cervical radiculopathy followed 51 patients over two to 19 years.6 In the study, 43 percent of patients had no further symptoms after a few months, 29 percent had mild or intermittent symptoms, and 27 percent had more disabling pain. No patient with radicular pain progressed to myelopathy.
Cervical Radiculopathy: Nonoperative Management of Neck Pain and Radicular Symptoms - American Family Physician http://j.mp/1y2mL5o
頸椎壓迫而考慮開刀的病患，可以仔細研讀參考原網站文章
Medications may be effective for patients with chronic radicular pain who decline surgery or have continued pain after surgery. A systematic review suggests that tricyclic antidepressants and venlafaxine (Effexor) may produce at least moderate relief in patients with chronic neuropathic pain.15Similarly, another systematic review suggests that tramadol (Ultram) may provide significant relief of neuropathic pain.
