Abstract: Musculoskeletal mimics of cervical radiculopathy will be explored in this AANEM monograph. A review of the literature and textbooks was conducted. Musculoskeletal cervical radiculopathy mimics include: (1) head/neck pain, such as neck tension, cervicogenic headache, and temporomandibular disorder; (2) referred pain from shoul-der pathology, such as rotator cuff tears/impingement; (3) elbow region abnormalities, including medial/lateral epicondylitis; (4) wrist/hand conditions, such as DeQuervain0s tenosynovitis and intersection syndrome; (5) muscle connective tissue disorders, including myofascial trigger points; (6) conditions that have decreased range of motion, including frozen shoulder and rounded shoulders with tight pectoral/scalene muscles;(7) conditions with joint hyperlaxity and instability, as seen in post-stroke shoulder subluxation; (8) vascular conditions, such as thoracic outlet syndrome; and (9) auto-nomic controlled soft tissue changes associated with complex regional pain syndrome. Formulating a differential diagnosis and recognizing mimics of cervical radiculopathy can decrease the time between symptom onset and diagnosis/treatment plan.

All conflicts of interest have been resolved according to ACCME standards. All authors/planners of this activity had nothing to disclose.