We’ve got another workshop coming up and this time we’re focusing on something we see every single day in the clinic back pain.
If you’re struggling with lower back pain, spinal stenosis or disc-related problems, trapped nerve in neck, come and join us on Tuesday 6th October at 6pm at Silvermere Golf Club.
We’ll be talking through some of the common causes of back pain, what can be done to help and we’ll also be doing a live treatment demonstration. It’s a great opportunity to actually see how we assess and treat someone, understand what we’re trying to achieve and ask the team any questions you might have.
So, if you’re struggling yourself or know somebody who is, we’d love to see you there.
On a personal note, I completed my 70.3 last weekend and thankfully everything went pretty much to plan. I managed to come away with a personal best, which I was really pleased with.
One of the biggest lessons from the day was simply sticking to the plan. I listened to the advice around pacing and nutrition and in particular, made sure I kept eating and drinking properly on the bike. It’s amazing how much difference it makes when you actually fuel your body properly rather than waiting until you feel like you need it!
All in all, a very good day at the office, although the legs certainly knew about it afterwards.
This weekend brings a very different endurance event because, for the first time ever, I’m flying solo with all three kids while Charlotte heads off to Paris with some friends.
Saturday morning is already looking like a military operation with various kids’ clubs and football to navigate, followed by a rugby festival on Sunday. Three children, multiple sports, one parent… what could possibly go wrong?
I’m not sure which will prove harder, the 70.3 or the weekend ahead. I’ll report back next week!
What is trapped nerve in neck?
Have you ever had neck pain that seemed to develop a mind of its own?
One minute, the discomfort is around your neck or shoulder blade. Then it starts travelling down your arm. Your fingers tingle. Your hand feels strange. Perhaps your grip does not feel quite as strong as usual.
Patients will often come into the clinic and say, “I think I’ve got a trapped nerve in my neck.”
And they may be describing something very real, although “trapped nerve” is not always the most accurate way to think about it.
A trapped nerve in the neck commonly refers to irritation or compression of one of the nerve roots leaving the cervical spine. The medical term is cervical radiculopathy. These nerves travel from your neck into your shoulder, arm and hand, which is why a problem beginning in your neck can sometimes be felt surprisingly far away.
So, how can you tell whether your arm or hand symptoms might actually be coming from your neck?
Think of the nerves leaving your neck a little like electrical cables running from a control box.
Your spinal cord is the main cable and smaller nerve roots branch away from it between the bones of your neck. These nerves help carry sensation and movement signals between your brain and your arms and hands.
If one of those nerve roots becomes irritated, inflamed or compressed, the symptoms can follow the nerve’s pathway.
Importantly, the nerve is not necessarily literally “trapped.” Sometimes irritation and inflammation around a nerve are enough to produce symptoms even without severe physical compression.
7 Signs of a Trapped Nerve in Your Neck
Symptoms vary depending on which nerve is involved but some common clues include:
- Pain travelling into the shoulder or arm – rather than staying purely in the neck, discomfort may extend around the shoulder blade and down the arm.
- Pins and needles – tingling may appear in the forearm, hand or particular fingers.
- Numbness – an area of your arm or hand may feel less sensitive than normal.
- Weakness – you may notice certain movements becoming harder or your grip feeling weaker.
- Neck pain or stiffness – turning or extending your neck may feel uncomfortable.
- Symptoms that change with neck position – certain head or neck movements can sometimes increase the arm symptoms.
- Symptoms mainly affecting one side – cervical nerve irritation commonly produces symptoms predominantly in one arm, although this is not a rule.
One thing I often remind patients is that where you feel the pain is not always where the problem begins. Tingling in your fingers, for example, does not automatically mean there is something wrong with your fingers.
What Causes a Trapped Nerve in the Neck?
There are several possible causes.
One is a change involving one of the discs between the vertebrae. A disc can bulge or herniate and irritate a nearby nerve root.
Age related changes in the joints and bones of the neck can also reduce the space available around a nerve. This is sometimes called cervical spondylosis.
Symptoms may occasionally develop after an injury or sudden movement as well.
However, scans do not always tell the complete story. Changes to discs and joints can exist without causing symptoms, so assessment should consider how you feel, how your neck and arms move, your strength, sensation and other neurological findings, not simply what an image looks like.
Can Sitting at a Desk Cause a Trapped Nerve?
Not quite as simply as “bad posture equals trapped nerve.”
But staying in one position for long periods can certainly aggravate an already sensitive neck.
I see this particularly with people working between the office, home and laptop. By late afternoon, their neck and shoulder muscles feel exhausted and their arm symptoms are more noticeable.
Rather than trying to maintain a supposedly “perfect” posture all day, I usually encourage variety.
Change position regularly. Get up and walk. Bring your screen to a comfortable height. Move your shoulders and neck throughout the day.
Your body generally prefers movement to eight hours spent frozen in the same position.
What Should You Do About a Trapped Nerve in the Neck?
The encouraging news is that many cases of cervical radiculopathy improve with conservative, non-surgical management. Exercise based rehabilitation, including appropriate strengthening and mobility work, can be useful for some patients.
The right approach depends on what is producing your symptoms.
In clinic, I would first want to understand when the symptoms began, where they travel, what makes them better or worse, and whether there are any changes in strength, reflexes or sensation.
Depending on the findings, conservative care may involve:
- Advice about movement, activity and workstation habits
- Specific mobility and strengthening exercises
- Sports rehabilitation where appropriate
- Carefully selected manual therapy
- Strategies to reduce repeated aggravation
- Cervical decompression or traction in appropriately selected cases
Research into cervical traction is mixed. Some studies suggest that adding traction to rehabilitation may help certain people with cervical radiculopathy, while other reviews have found that average improvements may be relatively small. It is therefore better viewed as one possible part of an individual care plan rather than a guaranteed solution.
The same principle applies to chiropractic treatment: there is no single adjustment, stretch or exercise that is right for every person experiencing arm symptoms.
Assessment comes first.
When Is a Trapped Nerve in the Neck More Serious?
Most neck and nerve irritation does not mean something dangerous is happening. However, neurological symptoms deserve appropriate attention.
Seek prompt medical assessment if you develop progressively worsening arm or hand weakness, significant loss of coordination, difficulty walking or balancing, numbness affecting multiple limbs or new changes in bladder or bowel function. Fever or feeling seriously unwell alongside neck pain, significant trauma or unusual changes to vision, speech or hearing should also be investigated.
Do not simply keep stretching or trying to “crack” your neck if your neurological symptoms are getting worse.
Trapped Nerve in Neck FAQs
Can a trapped nerve in the neck heal on its own?
Many cases of cervical radiculopathy improve over time without surgery. How quickly this happens varies depending on the cause, severity and individual circumstances.
Can a trapped nerve cause pins and needles in the fingers?
Yes. Nerves leaving the neck ultimately travel into the arm and hand, so irritation of a cervical nerve root can cause tingling or numbness in particular parts of the hand. However, hand tingling can have other causes too, which is why assessment is useful.
Should I exercise with a trapped nerve?
Complete inactivity is not generally the goal, but the correct exercise depends on your symptoms. Movement that repeatedly causes substantially worsening arm pain, numbness or weakness should not simply be pushed through.
Do I automatically need an MRI?
Usually not. Many cases can initially be assessed using your symptoms and a physical examination. Imaging may become appropriate when symptoms persist, follow significant trauma, progressively worsen or suggest another condition requiring investigation.
Don’t Ignore What Your Arm May Be Telling You
A trapped nerve in the neck can be confusing because the neck is not always where you feel the worst symptoms.
Sometimes the first clue is an aching shoulder. Sometimes it is tingling in two fingers. Sometimes it is an arm that suddenly does not feel as strong as it used to.
The important thing is not to panic but also not to guess.
If neck, shoulder or arm symptoms are interfering with your sleep, work, exercise or day to day life, we can assess what may be contributing and explain your options clearly.
Book a discovery visit here with us to learn more about your neck and whether chiropractic care, rehabilitation or another approach may be appropriate for you.
This article provides general educational information and is not intended to diagnose or treat an individual medical condition. Seek appropriate medical assessment for persistent, severe or worsening symptoms.
References
- Childress, M. A., & Becker, B. A. (2016). Nonoperative management of cervical radiculopathy. American Family Physician, 93(9), 746–754.
- Colombo, C., Salvioli, S., Gianola, S., Castellini, G., & Testa, M. (2020). Traction therapy for cervical radicular syndrome is statistically significant but not clinically relevant for pain relief: A systematic literature review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9(11), 3389.
- Mansfield, M., Smith, T., Spahr, N., & Thacker, M. (2020). Cervical spine radiculopathy epidemiology: A systematic review. Musculoskeletal Care, 18(4), 555–567.
- Romeo, A., Vanti, C., Boldrini, V., Ruggeri, M., Guccione, A. A., Pillastrini, P., & Bertozzi, L. (2018). Cervical radiculopathy: Effectiveness of adding traction to physical therapy – A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Physical Therapy, 98(4), 231–242.
- This version deliberately balances the SEO phrase with the medically preferable term cervical radiculopathy, and the evidence around traction/decompression is framed conservatively rather than promising that it will “release” a nerve. The clinical sources support the symptom pattern, conservative-management approach and need to investigate progressive neurological changes.
