REMOTE HEALTH WEEKLY

CASE STUDY: Managing Chronic Cervical Radiculopathy (Nerve Pain) Without Surgical Intervention or Prescription Analgesics

It looks like a medical device, feels like zero-gravity, and is saving thousands of backs this year.

By Cindy Grines, Orthopedic Rehabilitation Specialist | Updated Jan 19, 2026

THE PATHOLOGY OF "TECH NECK"

Most patients attempt to treat their neck pain as a muscular issue. They buy posture straps to pull their shoulders back. Clinically, this is the wrong approach.

The root cause of chronic neck pain and hand numbness is often Cervical Ischemia (restricted blood flow) and Disc Compression.

When you look down at a screen, the gravitational load on your cervical spine increases from 10 lbs to 60 lbs. This constant pressure squeezes the intervertebral discs—the shock absorbers of your spine—causing them to dehydrate and flatten.

Eventually, the flattened disc bulges and touches the C5-C6 nerve root. This is why you feel numbness in your fingers. It is not a circulation problem; it is a nerve compression problem. No amount of 'sitting up straight' will rehydrate a flattened disc.

THE SOLUTION: VERTICAL PNEUMATIC TRACTION (VPT)

To resolve the compression, we must reverse the gravitational force. This is where the CerviAlign™ device differs from standard braces.

It utilizes a clinical principle called Vertical Pneumatic Traction.

By inflating the four distinct air chambers, the device gently lifts the occipital bone (base of the skull) upwards while stabilizing the shoulders. This creates a vertical expansion force that separates the cervical vertebrae by approximately 1-3 millimeters.

The Clinical Result:

• Decompression: The negative pressure created inside the disc acts like a vacuum, retracting bulging disc material away from the sensitive nerve root.
• Rehydration: This vacuum effect draws nutrient-rich fluid and oxygen back into the disc, restoring its natural height and cushioning.
• Muscle Inhibition: Unlike braces that force muscles to work, traction allows the deep cervical muscles to fully relax, breaking the spasm cycle.

CLINICAL NOTE: I often recommend the CerviAlign™ to patients who are showing early signs of radiculopathy (tingling in hands/fingers) to prevent the need for invasive procedures later. It is effectively a 'home prescription' for daily cervical maintenance.