A pinched neck nerve is a condition in which the nerve in the neck is compressed or squeezed. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as muscle tension, inflammation, and bone spurs. On this page we describe these ailments, popularly known as pinched neck nerve. Physicians know them under the collective name cervical spine syndrome, the cervical spine syndrome.
This term also includes tension, cramped muscles, inflammatory rheumatic diseases and pathological developments of the upper spine and psychosomatic areas of influence. Neck pain is usually the superficial symptom of this condition. Other symptoms may include headaches, tingling in the arms and hands, as well as decreased mobility in the head and arms.
Symptoms of pinched neck nerve
“Pinched neck nerves” can have various causes. These include poor posture and sleeping in an awkward position.
The symptoms of pinched neck nerve are similar to many other symptoms of neck pain and head injury. They include:
- Headaches that are throbbing or persistent
- Pain in the neck, shoulder, arm or hand
- Numbness or tingling in the arm and hand (also called paresthesia)
- difficulty moving your head or arm (limited mobility)
Stress is often recognized as the cause. However, this indicates a related clinical picture, which is usually not due to the pinching of a nerve, but to muscle tension. In this case, a good masseur or physiotherapist can already work wonders.
Causes of a pinched neck nerve
Neck pain is a common problem for many people. It is estimated that about 80% of the population will experience neck pain at some point in their lives. The most common causes of neck pain are muscle tension, arthritis and cervical disc herniation.
There are several factors that can lead to a pinched neck nerve:
- Poor posture
- Pregnancy
- Obesity and incorrect loading
- Poor sleeping position
- Accidents
What helps against a pinched neck nerve
A pinched nerve in the neck can be caused by muscle tension, injury, or a herniated disc. Symptoms vary from person to person. However, they typically include pain in the neck and upper back. In addition, there are usually tingling or numbness. In some cases, there is also a feeling of weakness in the arm and hand on the affected side of the body.
Medications are often used in the treatment of neck pain. The most commonly prescribed medications are muscle relaxants such as methocarbamol and analgesics such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. However, the most effective treatment for neck pain is considered manual therapies. Exercise and medical applications remedy the acute symptoms and prevent future diseases of the cervical spine. Experience has shown that the combination of treatments is more successful than any single one.
Physical therapy relieves pain and helps people with a pinched nerve in the neck regain their range of motion. Common physiotherapy treatments include exercises, massages, heat treatment and medications. Physiotherapists will stretch the muscles around the spine and guide patients to perform effective exercises to strengthen and stretch. Massages and heat treatment promote blood circulation in the area and reduce inflammation.