Neck pain due to a pinched nerve in your neck can be painful, as well as frustrating.  The nerves extend from the brain into your extremities.  As the nerves leave the spine, they can be affected by a bone spur, bulging neck disc, or a herniated disc that compresses the nerves.  Neck pain can result from this compression because of calcification of the soft tissue that surrounds the spine.  This can reduce the area where nerve fibers travel.

Pinched Nerve in Neck Symptoms

The most common symptoms include:

  • Pain radiating from the neck
  • Weakness
  • Numbness
  • Burning
  • Prickling (peripheral neuropathy)

The symptoms of a pinched nerve in your neck can actually mimic that of vascular health issues, including a heart attack.   Similar to the symptoms of a heart attack, a pinched nerve in this location can cause tingling in the left arm and/or pain in the left chest.  It is extremely important that you visit your doctor if you do experience any of the above symptoms to ensure it is in fact a pinched nerve in your neck and not a vascular health problem.

Type of Pain for Pinched Nerve in Neck

A pinched nerve in the neck can cause acute severe pain or chronic gnawing pain that worsens in the cold weather.  The pain can travel and will likely begin at the base of your neck.  It can then radiate up into your scalp, down your shoulder to your arm and fingers, into the top of your chest, and then into the angle of your shoulder blade or under your arm and into the lower pectoral muscles.

Therapy for Pinched Nerve in Neck

There are some effective therapy procedures that you can try before you consider surgery.  Here are just a few ideas to try:

Maintain Proper Desk Ergonomics

Ensuring you are following proper desk ergonomics throughout your day will help to prevent straining your neck, as well as the rest of your spine.  There are many different things you can do to help support your spine while at your desk.  However, to help prevent or relieve a pinched nerve in the cervical area, you will want to adjust the monitor height.

The monitor should be placed so that the entire screen sits at direct eye level.   Placing the monitor below eye level can strain your upper neck at the base of the skull.  When you look down for long periods of time, this can cause your muscles in your neck, shoulders, and upper back to become tight.

If necessary, you can use a small shelf to raise the monitor up one to two inches.  An ergonomic furniture site will generally have standing desk units with arms that hold your monitor for sale.  These arms will hold your monitor directly in front of you.

Isometric Neck Exercises

Neck exercises can help to increase your range of motion, as well as strengthen your cervical spine to relieve stiffness and pain.  Neck exercises can help to keep the joints moving and flexible.

It is important to talk with your doctor before you try any new exercises for pain or stiffness in your neck.  Be sure to perform exercises slowly.  You should only be able to feel the stretch, not pain.

One type of neck exercise you can try is to put your hands behind your head.  Be sure to maintain proper neck posture.  Push back with your neck.  Do this for one minute three times a day.   This will help your neck become stronger within about six weeks.

Neck Pillow

A neck pillow can help to cradle your neck while you are sleeping on your back.  This can cushion your neck muscles, which reduces aches, pain, and stiffness.  They allow you to switch positions easily during sleep.

If you feel you may have a pinched nerve in your neck, the best thing you can do is to contact your doctor for further instructions on how to relieve the pain and pressure

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