One of the most common conditions I treat is the infamous pinched nerve. Patients describe a stiff and sore neck, pain in their shoulder, arm or hand, or numbness and tingling in the fingers. They describe the pain as sharp, stabbing, burning, or a dull ache.
The medical term for this condition is called cervical radiculopathy. It’s an irritation or compression of a nerve root, where it exits the spine. These nerve roots branch and spread down into the shoulder and arm. The symptoms can come on suddenly, or develop gradually over time.
Causes
The neck, or cervical spine, is a complex network of vertebrae, discs, joints, nerves and the spinal cord. This structure is surrounded by ligaments, muscles, tendons, veins, arteries, and lymph nodes.
Prolonged tension and stress on your neck, such as looking down at your phone or looking up at your computer can cause a pinched nerve your neck. Physically demanding jobs that require lifting, pushing or pulling can sprain and strain your neck. This causes inflammation and dysfunction in the vertebrae and nerves in your neck. As we age, this dysfunction can get worse. Prolonged inflammation to an area increases sensitivity to nerve tissues. Prolonged inflammation to the joints of the neck vertebrae can lead to arthritis.
If left untreated, joint dysfunction can progress. The 3 most common conditions of this progression, that cause a pinched nerve are:
- Herniated Disc: This is when the inner gel-like material bulges out of the disc, pressing on the nerve root. This is often seen in people between the age of 25-45.
- Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease: Our discs wear down slowly as we age, normally. But if we’ve had trauma to the neck such as a car accident or sports injury, the degenerative process speeds up. The discs become thin, and bone spurs develop. This can result in pinching of the nerves that exit between the vertebra. This is often seen in people over age 45.
- Cervical Spinal Stenosis: This usually occurs when the neck vertebrae continue to degenerate. The main spinal canal that houses the spinal cord becomes narrow. The canals or foramen where the spinal nerves exit also become narrow, causing compression of the neural structures. This is often seen in people over the age of 56.