Pain that starts in the neck doesn’t always stay there. If you have cervical radiculopathy, the clinical term for a pinched nerve in your neck, you may feel discomfort or strange sensations all the way down in your fingers, and simple movements, such as turning your head, may cause a lot of pain.
You don’t have to resign yourself to a future with neck pain, though. For most people, nonsurgical treatments are often enough to help manage pain.
The Root Cause of Pinched Nerves
In many cases, pinched nerves in the neck occur as a result of natural, age-related changes. Think of your body’s network of nerves as a superhighway where electrical messages speed to and from your brain. Thanks to these messages, you’re able to move and feel sensations. In the cervical spine — the seven vertebrae in your neck — and the rest of the spinal column, nerve roots extend from the spinal cord like tree branches through spaces in the vertebrae. As you get older, however, these spaces may narrow.
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“Over time, the intervertebral discs that sit between the vertebrae become smaller and stiffer, forcing the body to grow bone spurs to shore up the area around the discs,” says Dr. Andrew Castro, board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon with the Beaufort Memorial Advanced Orthopedics and Spine Program. “These new structures can have an unintended consequence: encroaching into the areas where the nerve roots leave the spine and squeezing the roots themselves.”
Pinched nerves don’t always develop due to age. Another cause is a herniated disc, which occurs when an intervertebral disc’s inner contents push against or through its outer layer. The herniated disc can pinch the nerve root. Wear and tear or a sudden strain can cause a herniated disc.
What Does a Pinched Nerve in the Neck Feel Like?
Many adults with pinched nerves don’t have symptoms, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. However, if you develop symptoms, they can be hard to ignore.
Symptoms of a pinched nerve in the neck include:
- Intense pain that spreads from your neck to your shoulder, arm and hand, typically the areas served by the affected nerve
- Muscle weakness in the shoulder, arm or hand
- Neck pain that worsens when you stretch your neck or turn your head
- Numbness in the affected areas
- A pins-and-needles sensation in your hand
Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, can help with your pain. If your symptoms don’t go away, however, or if over-the-counter medications don’t help, an orthopedic surgeon or spine specialist can recommend a more effective treatment.
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Diagnosing a Pinched Nerve in the Neck
At your appointment, be prepared to provide your orthopedic surgeon with as much information about your symptoms as possible.
“The nature and severity of your symptoms, when they occur, and what seems to trigger them can help your specialist fully understand the problem,” Dr. Castro says. “Your specialist may also want to perform a physical exam. For example, a problem with your reflexes or pain that occurs when you turn your head may point to a pinched nerve in the neck.”
Your orthopedic surgeon may order imaging tests to look for cervical spine changes that could lead to a pinched nerve. An MRI, for example, can show a herniated disc, while an X-ray or CT scan can reveal narrowing of the spaces around the nerve roots.
Finally, you may need a specialized test called electromyography and a nerve conduction study. These tests show how well electrical signals move along nerve pathways and can help your orthopedic surgeon pinpoint the cause of nerve problems.
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Exploring Your Treatment Options
No two cases of a pinched nerve in the neck are precisely the same.
“We always start with the most conservative treatment that’s appropriate for you and then move on to the next option if it’s unsuccessful,” Dr. Castro says. “For some patients, wearing a soft collar for a short time can help relieve pain by reducing neck movement that worsens symptoms. Other patients find success with oral corticosteroids or a steroid injection to reduce irritation of the nerve.”
Additional treatment options include:
- Physical therapy — From loosening a stiff neck to improving muscle strength, seeing a physical therapist for neck pain can relieve your symptoms and equip you with skills to use if they return.
- Spinal surgery — You may be a candidate for surgery if nonsurgical treatments haven’t provided long-term relief. Surgery on the cervical spine has come a long way. Instead of spinal fusion, for example, spine surgeons can now perform a cervical disc replacement. This procedure involves removing a damaged disc and putting an artificial one in its place, which can relieve pressure on the nerve. Surgeons can also relieve a pinched nerve through cervical decompression — surgery to remove parts of the vertebrae affecting the nerves.
“There’s no reason to live with pain from a pinched nerve when there are so many treatments that can help,” Dr. Castro says. “Neck pain doesn’t have to be part of your life.”
Fed up with neck pain? Request an appointment with a Beaufort Memorial orthopedic specialist who can help you find a solution.
