What many people refer to as a pinched nerve in the neck actually may be nothing more than a tired or strained muscle, or possibly a sprained ligament. These relatively minor issues can happen when someone sleeps with their head at an awkward angle on their pillow, or after sitting hunched over a computer keyboard at work all day. A strained neck muscle or ligament can feel painful, sure, but the problem usually can be massaged out or relieved with an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication. In most cases, the pain and stiffness fades in a short amount of time. However, an actual “pinched nerve” is something else, altogether.

What is a Pinched Nerve in the Neck?

In reality, the term “pinched nerve” is something of a colloquialism. A more accurate way to describe the condition is “nerve compression.” What happens is, an anatomical anomaly develops, often as a result of the aging process. If this anomaly makes contact with the nerve roots that branch off the cervical (neck) region of the spine, it can produce symptoms that include chronic headaches as well as localized pain, radiating pain, tingling, numbness, and/or muscle weakness. When the nerve root compression takes place in the neck region, the areas of the body affected by symptoms include the neck, upper back, shoulders, arms, hands, and the fingers.

Conditions that can lead to cervical nerve compression include:

– Herniated disc

– Bulging disc

– Bone spur (osteophyte)

– Spondylolisthesis (vertebral slippage)

– Traumatic injury

– Repetitive strain

Diagnosing a Pinched Nerve in the Neck

If a patient reports symptoms of radiating pain, tingling, etc., to a doctor, nerve compression will almost certainly be suspected. In order to confirm it, a physical examination will be conducted, followed by tests for range of motion, reflexes, and muscle strength. Medical imaging, including an X-ray and a possible MRI or CT scan, might be ordered.

In addition to the exam and tests, a doctor will likely spend a considerable amount of time simply talking to the patient and asking questions. Family medical history can be an important factor in the development of degenerative spine conditions, so it is important to do a bit of research into that before coming to the doctor’s office. Have your grandparents or parents ever had a pinched nerve, herniated disc, or similar spinal conditions? If so, your chance of developing one of these conditions is greater.

Also, the doctor will need to know a few details about your symptoms. When did they begin? Where on the body are they experienced? Are there certain physical activities that exacerbate or ease the symptoms? What sort of self-treatment or self-medication was attempted before visiting the doctor? All of this will help provide the information necessary to reach a proper diagnosis.

Considering Your Pinched Nerve Treatment Options

Treatment of a pinched nerve in the spine normally consists of conservative methods such as anti-inflammatory drugs, exercise, stretching, posture modification training, applications or heat or ice, injections of anti-inflammatory corticosteroid compound around the area of the pinched nerve, and more. In general, surgery becomes an option only if conservative treatment proves ineffective after several weeks or months.

No one should consent to pinched nerve surgery before being absolutely certain that all conservative treatment options have been exhausted. Quite often, it requires a brief period of trial and error to devise the exact combination of treatment methods for a particular patient. That’s because no two cases are alike, and what works for one will not necessarily work for another. During the initial stage of treatment, communication between the patient and doctor is extremely important. Any changes, for better or worse, in the symptoms should be reported to the doctor as soon as possible. This will let the doctor know whether the treatment plan is on the right track, or appropriate adjustments need to be made.

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 neck