Patients with upper extremity pain and paraesththesia due to cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR) can benefit from acupuncture treatment. In a pilot study carried out in Japan, 15 subjects diagnosed with CSR and upper extremity pain and/or paraesthesia were treated with acupuncture once a week for four weeks at up to 10 sites in the cervical paraspinal region centred on the affected area. A significant reduction was seen for both mean visual analogue pain scores and functional scores on a neck disability index, with favourable results seen in nearly 90 per cent of cases. Changes were still significant at four-week follow-up.

Clinical effect of acupuncture on cervical spondylotic radiculopathy: results of a case series. Acupunct Med. 2013 Aug 21. doi: 10.1136/acupmed-2013-010317.