Pinched Neck Nerve

What is a pinched nerve?

A pinched nerve, also medically called cervicalgia or a cervical radiculopathy, occurs when a nerve root coming off the spinal cord becomes compressed. The cervical spine consists of 7 cervical vertebrae (the bones that form the neck region). Each vertebra is separated by a gel-like disc. The discs provide shock absorption for the spine.

The spinal cord is like a tree trunk, and the spinal nerves are like the tree branches. If an impingement or abnormal pressure is placed on a branch near the trunk, everything along that branch will be affected.

The compression can occur for various reasons. In younger people, it may occur when a cervical disc herniates due to trauma. In older individuals, it commonly occurs spontaneously as a result of arthritis or decreased disc height in the neck region.

What are common causes of Neck Arthritis?

Spinal nerves can be impinged by:

• Arthritis
• Disc wear-and-tear with age
• Herniated or bulging discs from trauma or degeneration
• Spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spaces in which the nerves travel)
• Tumor (either benign or malignant)

How does it feel?

• Sharp
• Stabbing
• Dull
• Aching
• Throbbing
• Tingling

Signs and Symptoms

• Pain improves if you put your hand on your head
• Inability to bend or rotate your neck
• Difficulty looking up, down or over your shoulder
• Weakness in your arm or shoulder muscles
• Muscle spasms and pain around the neck and shoulder
• Pain in the neck, upper back, shoulders, arms, or hands
• Inability to maintain upright posture
• Stiffness in the neck and shoulders
• Headaches
• Difficulty maintaining one position for a long period of time
• Difficulty sleeping due to pain

Diagnosis

• We conduct a thorough examination including the head, neck, and arms. We determine the root cause of your symptoms to ensure that physical therapy treatment is the best option for you.
• We examine posture, range of motion, strength, reflexes, sensation, soft tissue mobility, joint mobility, nerve mobility, and functional movements to create a custom treatment plan. We also take into account any imaging that you have had like X-Rays, MRI, CT scans, etc.
• Each nerve root corresponds with a specific area and we help determine which nerve(s) are affected to target our treatments toward these areas. This specified treatment helps you feel better quickly and get back to the activities you love!

Can Physical Therapy Help?

• Yes!!! Recent onset of symptoms typically results in a quicker recovery time of about 1-2 months. Whereas persistent symptoms that have lasted longer than 6 months, usually takes 2-6 months to recover.
• Good news!!! Recent research has actually shown that physical therapy is a better option than surgery, pain medication and injections. We can help you avoid unnecessary invasive procedures and tests that cost a fortune with limited effectiveness.
• More good news!!! Recent research has also shown that arthritis can begin as early as your 20’s but most people actually never have pain due to arthritis alone. The outcomes with physical therapy treatment are very good to reduce pain, increase functionality, and enjoy your life!
• “I had a severe neck injury-impending surgery about a year ago and hope for improvement was little. […] I left the first session feeling positive and hopeful. Steven was very professional, thorough and patient. After the 3rd session, I could feel a huge improvement and by the end I was about 90% improved overall. This team does “miracles”! They support their patients, follow up on them… all this with a positive attitude and a smile!!” – Dr. Elias M.

We may use a combination of the following techniques to help you get your life back (click each link to learn more):

• Spinal Manipulation/Mobilization
• Soft Tissue Mobilization
• Pain Reducing Modalities
• Neuromuscular Retraining
• Mobility Training
• Strength Training
• Endurance Training
• Sport Specific Training
• Kinesiology Taping

What should I do next?

• Schedule an initial examination
• Let us find the root cause of your pain
• Create a custom treatment plan for you
• Start living pain-free!

Want more information?

• Schedule a complimentary consultation