Hi... I'm not a doctor but what you're describing sounds as my arms and hands felt after I felt down a flight of stairs and, soon, found out how totally messed up my C-spine is.

Have you seen a PM (Pain Management) specialist, or do you see a neurosurgeon?

It sounds to me as if you might have nerve root impingement or compression, but only a doctor would be able to assess for sure. The problem with your arms and hands could be from your C-spine.

My C-4 to C-7 is all messed up.

My hands used to claw or lock, as you're describing, and it also took hours to work things loose.

A series of epidurals (steroid injections) and radiofrequencing (nerve nuking to temporarily deaden the nerves) helped me a great deal.

Believe me, doctors aren't singling you out to make a fortune from you or assist imaging centers in making bank; they are doing a differential diagnosis by ordering the x-rays (likely yours were also extension/flexion). Sometimes, it take more than one type of films ordered (and possible and EMG/NCV - found by searching Google) to diagnose.

Myself? I prefer a CT scan; it takes a whole lot less time and gives more in-depth dimension when the films are reviewed.