Not necessarily. From talking with a chiropractor years ago (2 bad crashes and c-2 subluxation), his explanation for the majority upper extremity numbness/pain was uneven development of the neck muscles pulling the cervical spine out of alignment. Or, uneven suppleness of neck muscles. Discomfort can be in shoulder, elbow, entire forearm, or any combination of hand and finger, usually 4th and 5th fingers.

Pain in the neck, however, is not always present.

Hope that helps.

BTW. When I stretch, I usually don't get pain or numbness in my hands. When I don't stretch, I usually do get pain/numbness.

Edit: Oops. Subluxation is the wrong term. The vertabra was rotating out of alignment.