919 - Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment for Refractory Cervical Radiculopathy After Failed Pharmacologic Therapy: A Case Report

Thursday, February 19, 2026

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM AST

Presenting Author(s)

CE

Chloe Esch, n/a

Medical Student
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Tampa, Florida, United States

Co-Author(s)

EL

Emily Lewandowski, n/a

Medical Student
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
East Aurora, New York, United States
GR

Garrett Rutt, n/a

Medical Student
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
South Lyon, Michigan, United States
FK

Francis Kane, MD

Physician
Precision First Healthcare
Sebring, Florida, United States

Submitter(s)

CE

Chloe Esch

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Tampa, Florida, United States

Case Diagnosis: A 65-year-old former truck driver presented with pain and tingling in the chest radiating down the left arm. Emergency evaluation ruled out cardiac causes, and MRI showed cervical spinal stenosis and degenerative changes.The patient was diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy.

Case Description: Symptoms persisted despite two months of conventional management, including gabapentin, tramadol, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and trigger point injections to the splenius capitis, splenius cervicis, and trapezius muscles. Pain and functional limitations interfered with sleep and activities of daily living. The patient then underwent six osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) sessions over three weeks, focusing on muscle relaxation, myofascial release, and muscle energy techniques. Two adjunctive trapezius trigger point lidocaine injections were also administered during this period.

Discussions: OMT is a non-invasive hands-on approach that can be used to treat musculoskeletal dysfunction. It showed potential benefit when added to failed pharmacologic and injection therapies in this case of cervical radiculopathy. Its potential mechanisms in cervical radiculopathy include reducing muscle hypertonicity, improving segmental mobility, enhancing circulation, and decreasing nerve root irritation. The patient reported steady improvement in pain and function, with pain scores dropping from 8.5/10 to 2/10 and Neck Disability Index decreasing from 40% to 20% after treatment. These results suggest OMT may be a valuable adjunct in managing persistent cervical radiculopathy symptoms.

Conclusions: This case highlights the efficacy of OMT combined with trigger point injections in improving symptoms and function in a patient with refractory cervical radiculopathy. Further studies in larger patient populations are warranted to better define OMT’s effectiveness and role in the management of cervical radiculopathy.