Trapped Nerve Neck

Neck Pain Trapped or Pinched Nerve, Entrapments around the Neck

What is a neck nerve entrapment?

Neck nerve entrapment is commonly known as a trapped or pinched nerve in most cases it is an excruciating pain that may start in the neck and may radiate into one shoulder or the other. It may also travel into the arms and fingers which is known as cervical radiculopathy. The pain from a trapped or pinched nerve can be relentless, excruciating and debilitating. Sleep is almost impossible to come by even with the strongest prescribed medication.

Prescribed Medication

Medications only mask the symptoms and rarely work or dull the pain and the medication you have been prescribed may be so strong that it can affect your daily activities. It is also important to realise tht there may health and safety implications at your place of work. This must be taken into account on grounds of safety, for instance driving on prescribed medication. To drive under the influence of certain drugs is a criminal offence- this can also be true for certain prescribed medications.

Chiropractic and Cold or Low Level Laser Pain Relief

There is natural pain relief that has been proven to help relieve the pain that comes with a trapped nerve in the neck area. British Chiropractic Association registered Chiropractors are experts in dealing with neck entrapment.  A Chiropractor will gently manipulate the trapped or pinched nerve free. This is by far the fastest and most effective method, bringing fast effective pain relief. There is also further significant pain relief to be had through a modality known as Cold or low level laser therapy; this modality has a five star rating for pain relief and is used at this clinic. Further information can be found under our listing “Pain Relief”. This must surely be the better way than taking the strongest prescribed pain medication.

Causes of neck entrapment

There are many structures around the neck that may cause a trapped or pinched. Neck entrapment may occur as a result of an old or new injury such as whiplash (WAD) or another medical condition. However, for most people this could be the result of an injury known by various names such as a bulging, prolapsed, herniated or slipped disc. This condition involves the discs – the soft gel-like structures positioned between the vertebrae in your neck and spine. When one or more of them slips- the nerves around can get trapped or pinched in between the disc and the vertebrae resulting in excruciating pain.

A bulging, prolapsed, herniated or slipped disc is not the only cause of a trapped or pinched nerve in the area of the neck. Sleeping in an awkward position can cause a trapped or pinched nerve leading to excruciating pain in the head, neck or shoulders.  This is probably the most common cause of a trapped or pinched nerve in the neck. However, there is likely to be an excruciating pain for several weeks if not months. Ice packs will help to alleviate the swelling and the inflammation that accompany a trapped or pinched nerve.

How does it feel?

Sometimes the trapped nerve can be painless however, in the most cases the common symptom is severe pain. The pain may be felt in the neck arm, or chest. Weakness may occur in the shoulder.

What should you do?

Nerve entrapments in the neck do not get better on their own; they need manipulation and GP/doctor prescribed medications will rarely work if the cause of the entrapment is not treated. If you have or suspect you have a nerve entrapment, consult a Chiropractor who is an expert in dealing with trapped nerves.

What shouldn’t you do?

If you have an entrapped nerve in the neck, do not ignore the problem. This can lead to a very long and very painful recovery.

Could there be any long-term effects?

Nerve entrapments in the neck may not produce any long-term effects as long as they are properly diagnosed and appropriately treated. If the source of the neck pain is not treated, wasting of the muscles may occur.

Management

Seeking advice from a registered B C A. Chiropractor is important in the treatment of an entrapped nerve in the shoulder. Initially a chiropractor can assist in diagnosing the cause of the problem and establishing its severity. Manipulation of the shoulder and the surrounding area will be the best course of action, and far better than the conventional route – “Surgery” or long term administration of “Prescribed Medication”. Cold or Low Level Laser Therapy is a modality with a five star rating for pain relief and the acceleration of the healing process.  Cold laser Therapy: more information on this modality can be found listed under “Pain Relief “section