What Is Pinched Nerve In Neck?

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Pinched Nerve

So you wake up in the night with weird painful, tingling sensations running from your neck and shoulders right down to your fingers. What is it? You ask friends and colleagues. “It’s a pinched nerve in your neck, buddy!” says a helpful soul.

A pinched nerve in neck? A pinched nerve in neck? A pinched nerve in neck? What the heck is that?

Read on, my friend.

What is a nerve?

A nerve is part of our nervous system. Nerves are very much like a bundle of cables through which signals from the brain (in the form of electrochemical impulses) are sent to all the various parts of our body. So if we were to, for example, accidentally touch a hot stove, nerves carry the feeling of heat from our fingers to our brains and then carry the message of “LET GO OF THE STOVE NOW, MORON!” from our brain down to our fingers in a matter of nanoseconds.

What is a pinched nerve? How does a nerve get pinched?

A pinched nerve is one of a group of problems known as Radiculopathy. This happens when a nerve or nerves in your body is affected and not able to function properly. The nerves may be inflamed, pinched or not working effectively due to a problem with blood flow.

A pinched nerve in neck (also known as cervical radiculopathy) is a common condition. Rest assured that you are not alone in your sufferings. Despite what you might have heard from the rumor mill, a pinched nerve in neck though often painful, and sometimes even disabling, a vast majority of patients suffering pinched nerve in neck require only some forms of treatment and not surgery.

A pinched nerve occurs when excessive pressure is applied to the affected nerve by bones, cartilage, muscles or tendons that surround it. This is sometimes due to injury or pregnancy. The nerve’s function is disrupted, causing you pain, tingling, numbness and even weakness.

These unpleasant sensations can sometimes occur far from the actual site of the nerve damage. This is known as referred pain. Referred pain happens because the pinched nerve’s signal is flawed. The area receiving the flawed signal is affected and thus, you feel pain, tingles and other weird sensations. As nerves that control the shoulder, arm and hand start in the neck within the spinal cord, a pinched nerve in the neck will affect your shoulder, arm and hand.

Posted in Pinched Nerve In Neck | Comments Off

Pinched Nerve In Neck Treatment

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Pinched Nerve

Treatments for Pinched Nerve in Neck


So you’ve finally realized that all that pain and tingling, weakness and numbing are due to a pinched nerve in neck. So what now? Well, if the pain and other symptoms are unbearable, please do consult a doctor. The doctor will be able to do a proper diagnosis and prescribe the right medication for your condition.

However, if you are looking for alternative treatments or temporary methods of relief you can administer yourself at home, here are some suggestions.

Alternative treatments for pinched nerve in neck

  1. Go for a professional massage. No, we’re not talking about you asking your spouse to knead your aching shoulder for ten minutes, we’re suggesting that you may want to make an appointment with a professional masseur who is skilled enough to ease some of tension and ache a pinched nerve in neck brings. A good massage not only relieves compression and soothes tired muscles, it feels great too.
  2. Apply heat and cold therapies. Like injuries you may receive during sports, heat and cold therapies may work on your pinched nerve in neck. A frozen pack of peas applied correctly may ease the swelling and pain on an inflamed area and a hot towel will help tensed and tired muscles relax.
  3. Have a break. Yes, you read it right. Sometimes just taking a break from your usual routine will help ease symptoms from pinched nerve in neck. This is especially true if your job or daily routine is made up of constant repetitive movements (for instance; typing on a computer). Easing up on the activity will allow muscles performing the activity to rest and recover a little.
  4. Take up yoga. If you have never done any yoga, do remember to take it slow and easy. Baby steps. No leg-over-the-neck routine for you just yet. Yoga teaches holistic, relaxation methods of deep breathing, meditation as well as the correct posturing of your body. It is thus a simple but sure way to improve on your general well-being.
  5. Try acupuncture. This is an ancient Chinese method of inserting needles into various acu-points on your body. The aim is to release blocked energy and thus relief tension and pain. Painful though it may sound, many swear by this method. If you do intend to try it, remember to only go to a professional.
  6. Invest in a cervical pillow. A good pillow helps relief many forms of neck ache. It will also be a great temporary measure to help ease your pinched nerve in neck. Support pillows come in a myriad of shapes, sizes and prices. Choose one that is most suitable for you.
  7. Eat right. As always, the food we put into our mouths will affect how our body functions. Try cutting down on inflammatory foods like sugar and bread. Include anti-inflammatory fruits such as papaya and blueberries in your diet. Put a little extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of tumeric into your stir-fry. Have an extra serving of broccoli and sweet potato. Then wash it all down with a nice cup of green tea. Yummy!

And there you have it. Eight alternative treatments you might want to try in order to ease your pinched nerve in neck.

Keep in mind that though the methods may help ease your symptoms, nothing beats having a thorough examination by a professional doctor!

Posted in Pinched Nerve In Neck Treatment | Tagged | Comments Off

Pinched Nerve In Neck Symptoms

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Pinched Nerve

What are the Signs of Pinched Nerve in Neck?

If ten people woke up with pain in the shoulders and neck tomorrow morning, nine of them would dismiss it as a strained or pulled muscle and get on with their day. Yes, oftentimes, a simple strained muscle is the cause of your misery. But it is not always so. Pain which starts from the neck and goes all the way to the arm and fingers may be a symptom of pinched nerve in neck.

Here are some of the other signs and symptoms of a pinched nerve in neck.

  1. You experience an acute and burning pain. The pain may sometimes radiate from the affected spot (neck) to other areas (shoulder, arm and hand).
  2. The pain you are experiencing increases if you cough or sneeze.
  3. You experience a tingling sensation or pins and needles down your arm for no particular reason.
  4. There are increasing instances when you feel that your hand has fallen asleep.
  5. You experience numb areas around your neck, shoulders or arm which you cannot account for.
  6. Sometimes the muscles at your neck, shoulders or arm feel weak when you have not done anything strenuous. Or they may even twitch.
  7. All the symptoms you experience seem to worsen when you are asleep.
  8. The pain and weakness you experience increases (this occurs when there is nerve damage) rather than go away with time.

How to Prevent a Pinched Nerve in Neck?

Like all other parts of your body, nerves need to be treated well in order to function at their optimal. Methods to prevent a pinched nerve in your neck are similar to preventing pinched nerves in other parts of your body.

Here are some ways to prevent a pinched nerve in neck.

  • Exercise regularly. Include strength and flexibility routines and stretches in your programme. This will help keep your body and nerves supple and coordinated.
  • Walk straight and tall. Slouching puts more pressure on some parts of your back and neck bones than it does on others. Having a good posture ensure that no part of your body (including nerves) is being crushed, pinched or otherwise constricted by other parts.
  • And last but not least, try to avoid repetitive activities. The kink in your neck after the 8th hour of staring at your computer may not just be a kink. It could be a pinched nerve in your neck! If your job requires you to do repetitive actions for long periods, remember to take short breaks after every two hours to relieve overtaxed muscles and nerves.

The preventive measures above may sound like common sense, but pause and consider; do you actually practice them or do you do the exact opposite?

Posted in Pinched Nerve In Neck Symptoms | Tagged | Comments Off