Recently in the clinic I seem to have had many patients coming in because they wake up and get a sudden neck pain. The first thing they all say is I think I have a “pinched nerve in my neck” trying to look at me with their neck stuck in a torticollis position. This is a classic story many chiropractors will tell you they have seen when people come in looking for neck pain relief after waking up with a wry neck. So I thought I would briefly go through the two most common causes of a pinched nerve in the neck I see in my chiropractic clinic, how pinched nerve neck symptoms overlap, and what you can do yourself for neck pain relief.
Pinched Nerve in Neck Symptoms
So you think you have a trapped nerve in your neck, but what are some pinched nerve symptoms? Well remember a symptom by definition is usually what you can feel or see. A symptom is usually how you would explain what your feeling to your chiropractor or doctor. So the patients I mentioned earlier who come into the chiropractic clinic with their wry neck, this is what I would commonly hear from them as the describe their neck pain.
- I just woke up and getting out of bed, or in the shower, I felt my neck twinge then within a few hours it was really sore and now my neck is stuck.
- The pain is mainly in my shoulder, on top of my shoulder and into the back of my arm with pins and needles in my finger tips.
- My arm pain feels worse than my neck.
- If I raise my arm above my head it relieves the shoulder pain.
- Painkillers and anti-inflammatories are not helping relieve my neck or arm pain.
- The pain is a deep, throbbing, ache in my arm.
- I have never had a problem like this before with neck pain.
- The pain is worst in the early morning hours and wakes me up from sleep.
- I cannot find a comfortable position to get neck pain relief.
- Trying to drive the car was really sore and made the pain worse.
Sound familiar. These are some of the symptoms patients tell me when they come in thinking they have a pinched nerve in neck or pinched nerve in shoulder. The question of what does a pinched nerve feel like is best described as a deep, throbbing, in the bone, worst pain you have ever felt kind of pain. This is because with a true pinched nerve you will be experiencing neurogenic pain. Neurogenic pain is different from inflammatory pain, like when you strain a muscle.
Pinched Nerve Neck Causes
As I said earlier, I would tell you what the two most common causes I see why people wake up with a wry neck or trapped nerve in their neck or shoulder. But, to understand the neck better I would say watch the neck anatomy video below. I think the neck anatomy video covers the basics of your neck (cervical) spine anatomy. You will hopefully get to understand what the cervical disc, neck spinal nerve root and joints are after watching it.
Neck Anatomy Video
The Causes
Firstly it is a problem is from the cervical spinal disc. A cervical disc will be a problem by either prolapsing or herniating. Only an already degenerating unhealthy disc will cause the sudden non-traumatic neck pain. This is important because if you end up going for an MRI scan of your neck then it is common to find a bulging, degenerating, dehydrated disc. So a micro-trauma tear could have occurred for no apparent reason and you ended up with a pinched, trapped nerve. Degeneration signs of the spinal joints (facet, uncinate) are another common finding and are usually called spondylosis on a neck x-ray report.
Secondly it is a synovial meniscoid entrapment . You may asking what is a synovial meniscoid? It is a naturally found structure in all of your neck spinal joints and it is thought it can get trapped between the two surfaces of the cervical facet joints. I would commonly see this present as a more local base of neck pain without major signs of nerve entrapment distress. Trapped synovial meniscoid pain is usually one sided and over the cervico-thoracic (CT) junction area of the spine, which is where your neck meets your upper back.
Neck Pain Relief Self-Treatment
So if your chiropractor or doctor, after examining you, confirms that you have a true pinched nerve in your neck or shoulder then they will advise what they could do for you. Again, what I mean by a true pinched nerve is where the nerve root coming out of your neck is compressed either by a cervical disc lesion, like a herniation, or inflammatory chemicals from an irritated cervical facet joint. However, there are some things you can try do yourself whilst getting your appropriate treatment.
- Don’t avoid seeing a Chiropractor or Doctor.
This is rule number one because even though you can try do some home treatment if you have a situation of a nerve in your neck being trapped you can lose function in that nerve. Not to be alarmist, but pain is just the warning sign. There are worse things that can happen from having a trapped nerve you may not realise like loss of muscle strength, bowel bladder changes from a severely herniated disc, or other conditions causing nerve problems like infection or tumors. Use a healthcare professional first to give you a diagnosis of your neck pain then decide what you want to do. - Try the Bakody Sign Position.
This is something where to relieve the pinched, trapped nerve pressure a person would place the affected arms palm on top or behind their head so the arm was raised. [Update] see the bakody’s sign position here. - Avoid prolonged sitting.
Sitting for too long will cause your head to shift forward on your neck even more than the wry neck position and place more stress on the nerve and spinal joints. - Use a Cervical Pillow.
Good pillow support will lower the stress on your neck joints helping by lowering the risk of nerve irritation. I am a fan particularly of the memory foam pillows. Memory foam pillows can come in many shapes & sizes with lots of different brands like Tempur pedic for example. However, at the end of the day, any good pillow support from any type of pillow is another important tool for you to help control the neck pain. - Move your neck in pain free directions.
Immobilising the neck completely can also cause more aches and pains. Gently moving your neck in pain free directions without pain will still allow the healthy joints and discs to keep healthy. It is a fine balance sometimes between rest and movement. - Speak to your doctor about Neurogenic Pain Medication versus Inflammatory Pain Medication.
Neck or shoulder pain at the end of the day is what you are most concerned with so chemically how can you control it? Chronic pain can occur from a severe acute pain episode so using appropriate medication can lower your risk of chronic pain. There are many different kinds of pain medications for pinched nerves, inflamed muscles & joints so speak to your doctor if your current pain medication is not helping control your neck pain. - Cervical Traction Home Kits.
Caution must be advised if you are seeking to perform home cervical traction on your neck pain. Cervical traction is thought to be best if it is intermittent. Large amounts of force are not needed with cervical traction. Your chiropractor or orthopaedic/neurosurgeon could advise you on their feelings about using home cervical traction devices. Sometimes it is best left to your healthcare provider to perform the cervical traction on your neck pain. - Keep Hydrated.
Being in pain you can forget to drink water. If you are taking lots of neck pain medications and not eating/sleeping properly then hydration can become an issue and that is why hospitals always put people on intravenous (IV) saline drips. So remember to keep trying to have some glasses of water during the day to help create a better natural healing environment in your body.
The neck pain relief self-help list is not exhaustive. However, it should hopefully give you some ideas as to what you can do to help your pinched nerve in your neck or shoulder.
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I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Susan
Firstly i would like to say thank u for putting together some concise decent information. Theres alot on the net that makes either no sense or just not very detailed.I have synovial meniscoid entrapment on the left side of my neck and have found from a little feel around and applying mild pressure to certain areas that once i find the spot to the left of my spinal chord on my neck and apply mild pressure i get around 25% more movement from my neck with little or no pain. So if i need to get around the house i apply mild pressure whilst i move around. This is accompanied by deep heat spray or cream as well.Hoping this will go soon. I hear roughly a week to self right its-self. Any other hints and tips would be great.
Hi Paul,glad you enjoyed the article.It is such a common problem having a meniscoid entrapment.Remember like I said if it gets worse or pain or sensation in the arm gets worse you may need to see a healthcare professional like a chiro.I will be writing more on nerve problems for sure.GK
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Pain for a week now has made me seek relief.. yours is the only article I've come across to give me any sort of real answer.. thank you so much..
Jayne
Thanks Jayne, I hope you get some relief from your pain soon.
Thanks for the quick tips which helps in diagnosing the issue perfectly. My bro is suffering from severe neck pain and had an MRI recently. I should approach orthopedic specialist i.,e Advanced shoulderkneeorthopedics to fix it.
hi just read ur nlog and some of it i understtod but other bits i didn't.
i have been attending the orthapedic clinic for almost 4 years now, i got told i had trapped nerves in my arms- but tests ruled that out, ive got a lot worse over the years and my hands swell, numbness, pins n needles, my neck is so sore now even turning it it is so painful i could cry sometimes, i;m getting sent for a mri scan of my neck to see if the problem is there, the doctor seems to think it's my neck or my spine. sorry for rabbling on :)
Kim, you could have pain from different sources. The MRI would help to see if the disc between the bones in your neck is a problem, also if there is anything else in the muscles. To solve the pain it would depend on how the problem started and to test you with orthopaedic & neurological tests and the MRI or other tests. So a nerve can either get irritated in the neck or anywhere along the chain to the fingers. I hope you get to the bottom of your pain soon.
Thanks, Daniel. The orthopaedic surgeon would look to see if they could help any disc problems in your brothers neck after looking at the MRI scan. Hope you gets some pain relief soon.
thank u for replying.
ive had tests (felt like electric shocks) done from my fingers right up my arms and they all came back negative.
i hope they find out whats wrong soon thats been almost 4 years now.
thank you again
Hello Gary, Description of the symptoms of a trapped nerve suited me perfectly. I've had this before but maybe 10years ago, and I'm sure getting older doesn't help. How long before it subsides naturally without too much outside help please?
Thank you for a very interesting and informative article. Andy
Hi Andy, it depends on how bad the inflammation is and any damage to the neck structures. If it is more an inflamed joint, synovial mensicoid entrapment could be a week to 6 weeks sometimes . If it is more a disc source of pain could be a few months unfortunately.
when you have this type of 'trapped nerve' and the feelings of pins and needles in fingers is mentioned is also joint pain in index middle and ring finger a symptom- i have pain in base of skull, neck, shoulder but te pain in those 3 fingers and the tenderness on just touching surface of them is surprising – pain lasted about 18 hours now.
Hope you get some relief soon though Irene.
I had this pain 4 years ago. Woke up in the morning in complete agony couldn't move my head at all. Went to the chiropractic and got some relief immediately. I had some sort of pain lasting four months. My only relief was putting my arm around the back of my head. The same problem has re-occurred about a month ago but this time its just a dull ache in the shoulder and when i rest on my elbow i get pins and needles in my fingers. Due to the the lack of effective treatments last time i will grin and bear it with a few painkillers and not do anything too strenuous.
Hi, just came across your blog and sounds like the problem i have.
started to have pains about 5 weeks ago in right forearm and started to move in to elbow and back of arm, up in to my shoulder blade and in to my neck,
at night and first thing in the morning was very painful, had lots of pain killers from doctor(s).
most of them said tennis elbow but one said trapped/piched nerve in neck, luckly sent to bupa to see specialist and the next day had mri scan,had to wait a week for result,
hoped it would show something but no it came back clear, booked in for a nerve conduction studie soon.
but just been to see physo at bupa today and wow after an examination she pressed on a nerve in my neck (right side)which sent pain to all the areas i had been having pain in, all at the same time. she found the problem.
great now having number of exercises to do, going back next week.
hopefully phsyo will sort it, if not maybe nerve block injections.
roll on next week, keep you informed.
Sounds like your getting some pain relief now, which is great to hear.
Hello. I have been diagnosed as having a trapped nerve in my neck. My symptons, are severe pain on the right side, and back of my head. Shoulder, inc. shoulder blade, and if i lift my right arm, it causes the pain in my head to be worse. I am going to see a N.HS Physotherapist, next week. I have had this problem for 5weeks now. I am feeling unwell at times. Sitting, does make it worse.
i have tingling feeling from my shoulder all down my arm to my thumb when i raise my head up straight.
Phil that could be a sign of a trapped nerve in your neck, especially when you straighten it up it can close down the holes where the nerve comes out the vertebrae. Hope you get some relief soon.
My sister had a trapped nerve the other week, she said it was a throbbing pain and I advised her to keep mobile and try to move it freely, which you suggested and it does work.
Hello, Its me again. I am now seeing a Physiotherapist every week. She said its definatly a trapped nerve root in my neck causing my severe pain in the right side of my head, and shoulder. I had some sort of Acupunture on Tuesday -felt great the following day. But now back to the usual “toothaching ” pain. I am getting fed up now. As it started, almost 3months ago.She did mention a scan, so will see what happens. Thank You ~~~~~~~~Jacqui
i have had a stiff or sore neck on many occasions previously, but this time its been horrendous, with the pain in my arm the worse, during the day i can cope with the pain but at night no matter which way i lie in bed i cannot get comfortable and i am unable to sleep which is making me feel quite unwell. My doctor gave me an ointment rub and naproxen tablets which are not seeming to help! has anyone got any other advice please?
Hi, I have had a trapped nerve now for 3months. I put up with it for a while, like you was given ointment off the Doc.(no good!) But have been going to have Physio weekly now. Although i did have acupunture last week, and it did help a little., Iam hopefully having a scan soon. But the Physio has given me tips, how to manage it. You could try this–Make sure that when sitting, you have a rolled up towel behind your neck(support) and your arm resting on a cushion.(when watching t.v)Dont sit for too long–walk about. Also when in bed, have your neck supported with a “rolled” up pillow, this reieves the pain. Also excercise–i.e-lie on your back withrolled up towel behind your neck for support. Gently lower your head down (1″ ) and back up, a few times. This helps also. It is awful, i sympathise. There doesnt seem to be an end to it.I hope i have been some help.Good Luck
I am having the same problems!! I went to an osteiopath who was really good and suggested I get a neck support pillow and an ice pack. it seems to be helping. I also have a physio appt tomorrow and an other appt the the ostieopath. Hope this helps.
Jacqui I do feel sorry for you having had the nerve pain for awhile unfortunately. I hope you get some relief soon. Sounds like you have found that neck pain from a trapped nerve root can be increased or relieved to some degree with bad/good neck posture. Hope you get some relief soon.
Hi Rob,your present symptoms sound just like mine.I was lifting a box at work,the box split and went to ground while my arm went up.I didnt think anything of it at the time.But the next morn i was experiencing pain,the next day was worse and so on until the w/end.I then went to the a&e as the pain was excruciating(4 days later).When i was asked to lift my arm out to the side that was ok-ish but when they asked me to lwer it ,it was horrendous and cramped right up under the armpit area.I too lean an dget the pins and needles thing.I am constantly in some degree of pain.Some days worse than others.The pain goes from somewhere in my shoulder,down the back of my arm and onto my forearm an thumb and index finger.This has really affected my life.I am a cycling time trialist and now i cant even ride the bike through the painI hope yours only stays as a dull ache and the painkillers help.I am on strong painkillers and they sometimes help.I know i could not grin and bear it and i am used to pain(cycling etc).Drivings a nightmare,computer work the same.Just sitting and trying to rest the arm is also one of the worst moments.I hope this dont last forever.I got the sack from my job because this happened.Look after yourself and rest as much as you can
Read my comment to Rob G above……i am also taking naproxen.Dont take them too long though or make sure you take lanzoprasol with them….i am now experiencing bleeding in my back passage.They think its caused by the naproxen causing a problem to the lining of my stomach
Gary i would love to hear your thoughts on my post above to Rob G
Tagen it is a shame to hear you can’t ride properly and even got sacked cos of the pain. A NSAID medication, like naproxen, is the first line of drugs most people are prescribed for any pain. Unfortunately sounds like you got one of the side-effects of taken NSAID’s which is an irritable gastro-intestinal system and bleeding. I have been reading today about nerve pain medication and looks like the there is no clear consensus as to which drugs or combination to take to help the nerve pain. I have seen patients get relief and some not with any medication. So looks like it can be a trial thing to see which medication combination works best and at what dosages. I hope your GP or whoever prescribed the meds are reviewing you especially with the bleeding issue. Maybe you should be looking at the other alternative meds other than NSAID’s or if it has to be an anti-inflammatory then what they call a COX-2 inhibitor.
I am now having “pressure” acupunture and the Physio also suggegested that i have traction. On Thursday she did some “head pulling” i sat there, and had to relax, while she pulled my head up etc.(and that was instant relief!) I noticed a big differencewith the pain on the Friday, and at the moment, i dont seem as bad. I had no pain relief at all yesterday, i am not saying, i am pain free, but i havent the horrendous “toothache ” pain, and my shoulder etc, seems a lot better. The Physio i am having, is from the Hospital (N.H.S) So it it is worth, asking your Doc, to be recomended.-I will keep updating. Thank You~~~~Jacqui
Congratulations, you just earned yourself an entry in my feed reader, great blog.
After much pain, anti inflammatories, co-deine and paracetamol, nothing has alleviated the pain I am in, I am on holiday by a beach with peace and quiet hoping that the warmth of the sun and fresh air with gentle walking and rest would help but Ive been in agony especially at night. Keeping moving does help but howlong can you keep moving for? Having an MRI soon, my osteopath says its a trapped nerve in neck due to kyakking and capsizing and getting whiplash. Just found this site, thanks for all the useful info, keep it coming. D in a sunny and painful Brazil