That sharp, electric jolt that shoots from your neck down into your shoulder, arm, or fingers is not something you should ignore, and it is not something you simply have to live with. Cervical radiculopathy, often referred to as a pinched nerve in the neck, develops when a nerve root in the cervical spine becomes compressed or irritated, causing pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness to radiate well beyond the neck itself. Understanding what is driving your symptoms is the critical first step toward finding relief.