Pinched Nerves in the neck typical begin with neck pain and progressively begin to travel into the shoulder before ending in the arm/hand. The pain is unbearable at times, and is usually described as sharp, burning, tingling and numb.
The first goal is to relieve pressure from the nerve to decrease pain and work on strengthening muscles to prevent the problem from returning. Listed below are the easiest ways to help relieve neck pain:
- Monitor your amount of computer time (if you work on a computer frequently) -Try to take a 5 minute break every hour and walk around to reset your muscles and ease nerve pressure. Set an alarm for a reminder if needed.
- Lay on your back on a hard surface with a rolled up towel under your neck for 10-15 minutes. The towel represents the natural lordotic curve in the cervical spine and allows your nerves to take a break from gravity’s never ending pull.
- Apply an ice pack to your neck for 15 minutes and then moist heat for 15 minutes to decrease inflammation and promote healing.
Who should I see? Orthopedist vs. Chiropractic Medicine
If the pain has persisted for more than 2 weeks, it’s time to seek professional help. While both an orthopedist and chiropractor both look for the root cause of the pain, the treatments are very different. The traditional medical model utilizes medicine including steroids, injections, muscle relaxants and sometimes surgery to help with symptoms. The benefits include immediate relief however the medications do not prevent the pain from returning.
Chiropractic Medicine focuses on aligning the spine and musculature system in order to relieve nerve pressure as well as prevent the pain from returning. The amount of change to the spinal alignment determines the amount of pain relief that is achieved. Many patients are surprised by the amount of pain relief and prevention that is achieved through chiropractic care.
If you have been suffering from recurring neck and shoulder pain, try chiropractic to treat and prevent it from returning.