When someone says they have a pinched nerve in the neck, what is meant more often than not is that he or she has developed a sharp muscular pain or stiffness. It can be caused by something as simple as turning your head too quickly, or by sleeping with your head at an awkward angle on the pillow. In fact, muscle strains and ligament sprains are the most common causes of neck or back pain, and they are often mislabeled as “pinched nerves.” What would more properly be considered a “pinched nerve” is the actual compression of a spinal nerve root by an anatomical abnormality, such as a bone spur or herniated disc. This can produce pain and other symptoms that are very different from a muscle strain – and far more likely to cause long-term disruption of day-to-day activity.

What Causes a Pinched Nerve in the Neck?

Nerve compression that occurs within the cervical (neck) region of the spine can be caused by traumatic injury, such as a car accident, or it can develop over time as a result of the aging process. The intervertebral discs, vertebral joints, and ligaments within the neck are under a great deal of stress due to head movement and the weight of the skull. This stress, coupled with the natural deterioration of age, can lead to the development of a number of anatomical abnormalities within the upper-most portion of the spine. Two of the most common degenerative spine conditions that affect the neck region are osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease.

Spinal osteoarthritis is the deterioration of the cartilage that lines the joints connecting the vertebrae (facet joints). Its causes are unknown, and because cartilage does not regenerate, it is not considered curable. Degenerative disc disease is the gradual reduction of water content and height of one or more intervertebral discs. These spongy wedges of gel-like proteins and cartilage serve as cushions between the vertebrae.

In the face of osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease, several abnormalities can develop. These include:

– Bulging discs – The cartilaginous outer wall of a disc begins to protrude beyond its normal boundary.

– Herniated discs – The liquid inner portion of a disc extrudes through a tear in the outer wall.

– Thinning discs – The discs lose their height and strength, making them less able to hold vertebrae in their proper positions.

– Osteophytes – Also known as bone spurs, these excess growths of bone appear along the edges of existing bone when spinal integrity becomes threatened by a loss of joint stability.

In addition, the vertebrae of the spine are connected by ligaments, which can begin to lose elasticity over time. If a “hardened” ligament, a bulging disc, a herniated disc, vertebra, or a bone spur makes contact with an adjacent nerve root in the cervical spine, it produces localized pain, pain that radiates through the shoulders and other upper extremities, tingling, numbness, and/or weakness in muscle groups innervated by the affected nerve.

Treating a Pinched Nerve in the Neck

In most cases of cervical nerve compression, symptoms can be managed using a combination of conservative treatments, including anti-inflammatory drugs, exercise, stretching, neck bracing, corticosteroid injections, and other methods. Only if conservative treatment proves ineffective will surgery become an option. Before consenting to any type of neck surgery, patients should be sure that they have exhausted all conservative methods. A second or even a third opinion from a neck specialist also is advisable to be sure that the proper diagnosis has been made before undergoing surgery.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of pinched nerves and several other spinal conditions.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for pinched nerves and other spinal conditions. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/back_problems/pinched_nerve/

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of pinched nerves and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: Pinched nerve