Are the symptoms of cervical radiculopathy bad?

Yes: Radiating pain in arm, weakness of the arm, sensory changes--can be disabling in the very acute phase--this is why so many require and prefer surgery--untreated lead to muscle atrophy.

Can be: Cervical radiculopathy is usually pain with numbness, weakness, and tingling from your neck which radiates (shoots) down your arm(s). The causes are usually from a cervical herniated disc, cervical spinal stenosis, cervical degenerative disc disease. If you have severe pain and/or weakness you need to see your doctor soon. If you have no control of your bowel or bladder you need to go to the ER.