Can a Pinched Nerve in Your Neck Cause Arm Pain or Tingling?
Can a Pinched Nerve in Your Neck Cause Arm Pain or Tingling?
Your arm is tingling. Your fingers feel numb. Maybe you have an aching or burning sensation running from your neck through your shoulder and down your arm.
So why would the problem be coming from your neck?
A pinched or irritated nerve in the neck can cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that travels into the shoulder, arm, hand, or fingers. This is sometimes called cervical radiculopathy.
At Xcell Injury Care in Elyria, Ohio, we evaluate neck pain and other musculoskeletal symptoms to help determine what may be causing them and which treatment options may be appropriate.
If you’re experiencing persistent tingling or radiating pain, particularly after a car accident, work injury, or other trauma, it’s important not to ignore what your body is telling you.
What Is a Pinched Nerve in the Neck?
Your cervical spine consists of seven vertebrae in your neck. Nerves branch from the spinal cord through openings between these vertebrae and travel into other areas of your body.
When one of these nerve roots becomes compressed, inflamed, or irritated, symptoms can occur along the path of the affected nerve.
That’s why a problem originating in your neck doesn’t necessarily hurt only in your neck.
You might feel symptoms all the way down your arm.
What Does a Pinched Nerve in the Neck Feel Like?
Symptoms can vary depending on which nerve is affected and how significantly it is irritated.
Common symptoms may include:
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Shoulder pain
- Pain traveling down one arm
- Burning or electric-like pain
- Tingling or a “pins and needles” sensation
- Numbness in the arm, hand, or fingers
- Muscle weakness
- Symptoms that worsen with certain neck movements
Some people experience significant neck pain along with these symptoms. Others notice that the arm pain, numbness, or tingling is much more noticeable than the discomfort in their neck.
That can make the source of the problem less obvious.
What Causes a Pinched Nerve in the Neck?
Several conditions can irritate or place pressure on nerves in the cervical spine.
Possible causes include:
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Age-related changes in the spine
- Joint inflammation
- Narrowing around a nerve root
- Muscle and soft-tissue injuries
- Car accident injuries
- Work-related injuries
- Repetitive strain
The cause matters because not every case of neck, shoulder, or arm pain should be treated the same way.
An evaluation can help determine whether symptoms appear to originate from the cervical spine or whether another condition should be considered.
Can a Car Accident Cause a Pinched Nerve in Your Neck?
A car accident can subject the neck to rapid and forceful movement.
During a rear-end collision, for example, the head may suddenly move backward and forward. This motion can injure muscles, ligaments, joints, discs, and other structures in the cervical spine.
If a disc or surrounding tissue irritates a nerve root, you may develop symptoms that extend beyond ordinary neck soreness.
After a crash, watch for symptoms such as:
- Pain traveling from your neck into your shoulder or arm
- Tingling in your hands or fingers
- Numbness
- Burning sensations
- Reduced grip strength
- Arm weakness
Another important consideration is that symptoms after a car accident can be delayed.
You may initially feel stiff or sore and then notice tingling, numbness, or radiating pain hours or days later.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms after a car accident in Elyria or elsewhere in Lorain County, consider getting evaluated instead of waiting for them to worsen.
Can a Work Injury Cause Neck Nerve Pain?
Work injuries aren’t always caused by one dramatic accident.
Repetitive movements, awkward working positions, heavy lifting, prolonged computer use, and repeated overhead work may place stress on the neck and surrounding structures.
A sudden workplace accident may also injure the cervical spine.
If neck, shoulder, or arm symptoms begin following a workplace incident or seem to worsen because of your job duties, an evaluation can help identify potential musculoskeletal causes.
Can a Chiropractor Help With a Pinched Nerve in the Neck?
Chiropractic care may be an appropriate conservative treatment option for some conditions involving neck pain and nerve irritation.
However, the first step isn’t simply adjusting the neck.
The first step is figuring out what’s causing the symptoms.
Depending on the patient’s condition, treatment may include chiropractic manipulation or mobilization, soft-tissue techniques, exercises, stretching, activity modifications, ergonomic recommendations, and physical rehab.
If symptoms suggest that additional testing, imaging, or medical evaluation is necessary, those considerations can also be addressed as part of determining an appropriate treatment plan.
Should You Ignore Tingling That Comes and Goes?
It’s easy to dismiss occasional tingling, especially when it disappears after changing positions.
But recurring numbness or tingling shouldn’t automatically be ignored, particularly if it is accompanied by neck pain, radiating arm pain, or weakness.
Your symptoms provide clues about what may be happening.
Pay attention to:
- Where the tingling occurs
- Which fingers are affected
- Whether symptoms occur in one or both arms
- Which movements make symptoms worse
- Whether you’re losing strength
- When the symptoms began
- Whether they followed an accident or injury
These details can be helpful during an evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pinched Nerves in the Neck
Can a pinched nerve in your neck cause tingling in your fingers?
Yes. Irritation of certain cervical nerve roots can cause tingling, numbness, or other sensations that extend into the arm, hand, and fingers.
Can neck problems cause shoulder and arm pain?
Yes. Some conditions affecting the cervical spine can cause pain that radiates into the shoulder or arm rather than remaining confined to the neck.
How do I know if my arm pain is coming from my neck?
Radiating pain accompanied by neck discomfort, tingling, numbness, or weakness may suggest nerve involvement. However, arm pain can have many causes, so an evaluation is necessary to determine the likely source.
Can chiropractic care help cervical radiculopathy?
Some patients with certain musculoskeletal causes of cervical radiculopathy may benefit from conservative care. Treatment should be based on an appropriate evaluation and the underlying cause of the nerve irritation.
When should I be concerned about numbness or weakness?
Persistent or worsening numbness and muscle weakness should be evaluated. Seek prompt medical attention for sudden significant weakness, symptoms involving both arms and legs, difficulty walking, loss of coordination, or symptoms associated with serious trauma.
Don’t Assume the Problem Is in Your Arm
When your hand tingles or your arm hurts, your neck might be the last place you think to look.
But the nerves traveling into your shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers originate higher up. When a nerve in the cervical spine becomes irritated, symptoms can sometimes travel far from the source.
If you’re dealing with neck pain, arm pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness, especially following a car accident or workplace injury, finding out what’s causing those symptoms is an important first step.
Xcell Injury Care in Elyria, Ohio, serves patients from Elyria and surrounding communities throughout Lorain County with evaluation and conservative care for neck pain, back pain, and musculoskeletal injuries.
Don’t simply learn to live with tingling, numbness, or radiating pain. Schedule an evaluation and find out what may be causing your symptoms.