Pinched Nerve In The Neck: Causes, Symptoms, & How To Fix It

If all those months of sitting badly for hours on end gave you the pinched nerve in your neck, it’s time to do something about it. A pinched nerve occurs when you put too much pressure on your nerves. The act of simply turning your neck or getting up from bed can cause sudden pain in your neck. Fortunately, there are a few natural treatment options you can try at home to alleviate the pain before it becomes worse and cause shoulder pain and arm pain, leading to hand numbness. In this article, we look at what is a pinched nerve, its causes, and a few tips to get rid of that pain in your neck, also known as cervicalgia.

What Is A Pinched Nerve?

A pinched nerve is the result of too much pressure applied by the surrounding bones, muscles, cartilage, or tendons on a nerve or group of nerves

. This pressure causes the nerve to lose its function and might result in pain or numbness in the affected area. Neck pain is also called cervical radiculopathy and the pain experienced at the topmost part of the spine is called cervical radiculitis.

Your nerves extend all the way from the brain to the spinal cord, sending important messages back and forth. A pinched or compressed nerve may produce signals in the form of pain, and such signs should not be ignored as they may lead to hand weakness.

Signs And Symptoms Of A Pinched Nerve

Other than pain, a pinched or compressed nerve may also give rise to symptoms such as:

• Numbness in the area
• A sharp pain that radiates outwards
• A tingling or pins and needles sensation
• Weakened muscles in the affected area
• A feeling of numb and sensationless hands or feet

These symptoms might worsen while you are asleep.

If you have a compressed nerve in your neck or arm, it may affect your elbows, hands, wrists, and even your fingers. This often leads to conditions like:

• Peripheral neuropathyⁱ  A medical condition that damages the nerves in the hands, arms, and feet leading to weakness and pain as a result of diabetes, infections and injuries.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Thyroid disease

Let us now look at the causes of a pinched nerve.

What Causes A Pinched Nerve In The Neck?

The pinched nerve in your neck could be due to the following:

• An injury
• Arthritis (cervical spondylosis and cervical disc degeneration)
• Stress
• Physical activities
• Obesity

If your nerve is pinched or compressed only for a short time, it isn’t usually a cause for concern. But if it continues to be compressed for a long period, it may result in chronic pain and even result in a permanently damaged nerve.

Aleksa Georg, a blogger, battling neck pain for nine months, detailed her experience thus: “At first, it began showing up in the bed — mostly when I was laying down on one side or the other. This new irritating sensation felt just as something there was being pinched very, very [nastily]. The desire to crack this thing and get my neck mobility back to normal built up as the pain advanced and moved into my practice on the mat, and later on in my daily life as well (i).” She was later diagnosed with a displaced cervical disc.

Occupational cervical radiculopathy is also a common case these days. According to an online survey conducted with 685 orthopedic surgeons, it was found that neck pain and cervical radiculopathy are common among orthopedic surgeons. Of the 685 responses, 59.3% reported neck pain, and 22.8% reported cervical radiculopathy.

The following conditions might increase your risk of experiencing a pinched nerve:

• Rheumatoid arthritisⁱ  A chronic inflammatory disorder that triggers the immune system to attack its own healthy tissues in the joints of hands and feet causing pain and inflammation. (cervical osteoarthritis)
• Cervical herniated disc
• Thyroid disease
• Cervical stenosis
• Bone spursⁱ  Also known as osteophyte, these are bony projections or lumps that form on bones around the spine and in joints as a response to arthritis and old age. that occur as a result of trauma or other medical conditions
• Sexual activity, which increases a woman’s risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome (1). This, in turn, increases the risk of getting a pinched nerve.

Hence, to avoid damaging your nerve permanently, it is important to attend to it immediately. And we have the best solutions to address this problem. Simply follow the methods given below to treat your pinched nerve at home.

How To Fix A Pinched Nerve In The Neck

1. Hot Or Cold Compress
2. Massage With Warm Oil
3. Essential Oils
4. Ginger
5. Vitamins
6. Turmeric
7. Epsom Salt
8. Castor Oil
9. Exercises
10. Yoga
11. Acupressure

1. Hot Or Cold Compress

You Will Need

• Ice cubes
• A clean washcloth
• A sealable plastic bag
• A hot compress

What You Have To Do

1. Take some ice cubes and put them in a sealable plastic bag.
2. Wrap the plastic bag in a clean washcloth and apply it to your neck.
3. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat multiple times a day.
4. Alternatively, you can also apply a hot compress to your neck.

How Often You Should Do This

You may do this every hour or two until there is a notable decrease in your pain.

Why This Works

While a cold compress can help relieve the pain and inflammation, a hot compress can relax the muscles around the pinched nerve (2). It can also improve the blood circulation to your neck, thus aiding faster healing of the affected nerve.

2. Massage With Warm Oil

You Will Need

1/2 cup of coconut or mustard oil

What You Have To Do

1. Take some coconut or mustard oil and warm it a little.
2. Apply it to your neck and massage gently for 10 to 15 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this at least twice daily.

Why This Works

Massaging the affected area activates certain pressure points that help relax your muscles and increase blood supply to the neck to reduce cervical nerve compression.

A warm oil massage can also reduce the pain, and hence, it is one of the best and most effective options for treating a pinched nerve in the neck (3).

3. Essential Oils

a. Peppermint Oil

You Will Need

• 2-3 drops of peppermint oil
• Coconut or jojoba oil (optional)

What You Have To Do

1. Take some drops of peppermint oil on your fingers and apply it to your neck.
2. Massage for a few minutes until the oil is absorbed completely by your skin.
3. If you have sensitive skin, you can mix the essential oil with any carrier oil before applying it.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this twice daily.

Why This Works

Peppermint oil is widely used as a decongestant and also to relieve pain, given its wonderful analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties (4). It is also antispasmodic and can help in relaxing the muscles to relieve neck muscle spasms. These properties of peppermint oil can help in the treatment of the pinched nerve in your neck.

b. Lavender Oil

You Will Need

• 2-3 drops of lavender oil
• Coconut or olive oil (optional)

What You Have To Do

1. Take a few drops of lavender oil and apply it directly to the affected area.
2. If you have sensitive skin, mix the essential oil with a carrier oil of your choice.
3. Massage gently for 2 to 3 minutes until your skin absorbs the oil completely.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this 2 to 3 times daily.

Why This Works

While the pleasant aroma of lavender oil improves your sleep and helps you get ample amounts of rest, its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties help in reducing the pain and inflammation that are caused due to a pinched nerve (5), (6).

4. Ginger

You Will Need

• 1 inch of sliced ginger
• 1 cup of hot water
• Honey

What You Have To Do

1. Add an inch of ginger to a cup of hot water.
2. Allow it to steep for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Strain and add a little honey to the ginger tea.
4. Consume it before it turns cold.

How Often You Should Do This

You must drink ginger tea 2 to 3 times daily.

Why This Works

Ginger is an herb that is quite popular for its pain-relieving properties (7). It possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that can help relieve chronic pain and inflammation that occur due to the pinched nerve (8).

5. Vitamins

A deficiency in vitamins B6, B12, C, and E may increase your chance of developing a pinched nerve. Hence, it is important to get the required dose of these vitamins every day to aid faster healing. Increase your intake of these vitamins by consuming foods rich in them like citrus fruits, green vegetables, almonds, avocados, seafood, and poultry. All these vitamins have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that can help lessen the pain (9), (10), (11), (12).

6. Turmeric

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
• 1 glass of milk
• Honey (optional)

What You Have To Do

1. Add a teaspoon of turmeric powder to a glass of hot milk and stir well.
2. Allow it to cool a little and add some honey to it.
3. Drink this mixture.

How Often You Should Do This

Drink turmeric milk 1 to 2 times daily.

Why This Works

The curcumin in turmeric possesses anti-inflammatory and healing properties that can help treat the pinched nerve (13), (14).

7. Epsom Salt

You Will Need

• 1 cup of Epsom salt
• Bathwater

What You Have To Do

1. Add a cup of Epsom salt to your bathwater.
2. Soak in the bath for 15 to 20 minutes and relax.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 2 to 3 times a week for effective results.

Why This Works

Epsom salt contains magnesium, which is widely used to treat pain and inflammation due to its anti-inflammatory properties (15). An Epsom salt bath can help your skin absorb more magnesium and relieve the symptoms of pain and inflammation caused by the pinched nerve in your neck (16).

8. Castor Oil

You Will Need

• 1/2-1 tablespoon of castor oil
• A warm compress

What You Have To Do

1. Take sufficient amount of castor oil in your hands and apply it to the affected area.
2. Gently massage the neck for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Apply a warm compress to the area and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 2 to 3 times a day until your pain begins to subside.

Why This Works

Castor oil is well-known for its potential anti-inflammatory and relaxing properties. This is mainly due to the presence of ricinoleic acid in it. Therefore, a quick massage or application of a castor oil pack is one of your best bets to deal with pinched nerves (17).

9. Exercises

What You Have To Do

1. Gently rotate your neck in the clockwise and anticlockwise directions.
2. You can also move your neck back and forth and side to side to relax the nerve muscles in your neck.

Repetitions

15 to 20

How They Help

Doing a few stretches is all it takes to relax the stiff muscles in the neck and relieve the pain that a pinched nerve causes, which can be particularly beneficial for a stiff neck (18).

Quick Tip

Alternative exercises such as side bends, shoulder rolls and shrugs, median nerve sliding, and median nerve rocking can help in easing a pinched nerve and relieve neck stiffness and pain.

10. Yoga

What You Have To Do

Practise yoga poses like the Cobra Pose, Extended Side Angle Pose, Fish Pose, and Downward Dog Pose.

Duration

Hold each pose for 10 to 15 seconds.

Why This Works

Yoga can help stretch the muscles in the neck, thereby inducing relaxation and speeding up the healing process of the pinched nerve and might help relieve pain due to cervical arthritis. It also improves blood supply to the affected nerve, thus aiding its recovery (19).

11. Acupressure

You might also want to consider acupressure to help treat the pinched nerve in your neck along with cervical disc protrusion, which involves applying pressure to certain points in your body. It not only relieves pain but might also help the nerve regain its lost function (20).

Quick Tip

Walking for 10 minutes for every hour of sitting can also help ease a pinched nerve in the neck. Your ears must be in level with your shoulders, with loose jaws and a neutral head position while walking.

Preventive Tips

• Maintain good body posture.
• Avoid staying in one position for a long time.
• Exercise regularly.
• Maintain a healthy weight and follow a healthy diet.

Keep reading to learn other treatment methods you may consider to manage a pinched nerve.

Other Treatment Options For A Pinched Nerve In The Neck

The doctor may recommend the following treatment courses to improve your condition:

• Resting allows the neck to heal and reduces strain.
• Physical therapy targets pain areas, strengthens muscles, and enhances flexibility.
• A soft collar provides neck support, restricting unnecessary movement.
• Surgery relieves nerve pressure in persistent or severe cases.
• Medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or oral corticosteroids can help reduce inflammation and provide pain relief.
• Doctors may inject corticosteroids into the affected area to manage more severe cases.
• Surgical interventions like cervical decompression or discectomy help relieve nerve compression for persistent or severe symptoms.

Always consult a healthcare expert for a proper diagnosis and tailored treatment approach. Additionally, you may follow some sitting and sleeping positions to speed up your recovery. Check them out in the next section!

Best Sleeping And Sitting Positions For A Pinched Nerve In The Neck

• Keep pillows under your neck and knees to keep your backbone as straight as possible.
• A proper sitting position can also take a lot of pressure off your back. Sit on chairs that support your back. Avoid sitting for too long and take frequent breaks if you are required to sit at a stretch.

Try these remedies and methods to reduce the swelling and pain. However, if your problem persists, you need to consult a doctor immediately.

When To Visit A Doctor

You need to visit a doctor if you experience these symptoms:

• Persistent and unbearable pain despite treatment
• Acute focal weakness (when one of your legs is unable to carry your weight)
• A profound loss of sensation in any of your body parts
• Loss of bladder or bowel control

Infographic: 5 Ways To Fix A Pinched Nerve In The Neck

Stress, excess physical activity, or sitting badly for long hours can cause a pinched nerve in the neck. It not only causes a sharp pain that causes difficulty in moving your neck but also ends up disrupting your daily activities. The good news is you can treat this issue with simple remedies at home. Check out the following infographic to know more!

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a pinched nerve take to heal?

A pinched nerve may take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to heal completely.

Can a chiropractor fix a pinched nerve?

Chiropractic treatments usually help in taking pressure off the pinched nerve, which, in turn, provides relief from the painful symptoms.

Is surgery necessary for a pinched nerve in the neck?

Surgery for a pinched nerve is the last resort when other non-surgical treatments do not show any improvement. Mostly pinched nerve symptoms suffice with rest, hot press, and medication.

Can physical therapy help with a pinched nerve in the neck?

Physical therapy can indeed assist with a pinched neck nerve. Physical therapy can ease discomfort, increase the range of motion, and stop additional injury by bolstering the muscles surrounding the injured location.

Can a pinched nerve in the neck lead to permanent nerve damage?

A pinched nerve in the neck can potentially lead to permanent nerve damage if left untreated for an extended period of time (17).

Learn about the symptoms and treatments for a pinched nerve in the neck. Watch this video to identify the issue as well as tips on how to relieve the pain and discomfort.

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Caroline DuncanM.D

   

Caroline C. Duncan graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina in May of 2017, where her interests were primarily psychiatric, neurologic, and pharmacologic in nature. She served on the editorial board for the school’s literary and artistic publication Humanitas and was editor-in-chief in her fourth and final year.

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Shaheen NaserHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Shaheen holds a postgraduate degree in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology from Bharathiar University. She is a Geneticist with proficiency in Biotechnology, Immunology, Medical Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Genetic Counseling.

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Arshiya SyedaCo-Editor-in-Chief

Arshiya Syeda is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of StyleCraze with 8 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer who combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care.

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Dipti SharmaBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Dipti is a health and wellness writer specializing in holistic health practices. She graduated from Maharishi Dayanand University, Haryana, and has worked closely with Ayurvedic doctors, which has given her a deep understanding of traditional remedies and their applications.

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