In the neck, nerves branch off the spinal cord through spaces between the vertebrae. Occasionally from many different reasons these gaps can narrow, which can then pinch the exciting nerves, often causing symptoms of pain and aching down the arms, sometimes accompanied with pins and needles in the hand. A number of problems can cause a trapped nerves, including a slipped disc (herniated disc), spinal stenosis (narrowing of the space), or degenerative disc disease (spondylosis). Age-related degenerative changes in the spine account for 70% to 90% of all cases.
With the correct advise and treatment people with a trapped nerve have a good outlook for recovery however. As a result, treatment almost always begins with conservative therapies like osteopathy and physical rehabilitative therapy. You will be advised to avoid activities that cause pain or discomfort. Gentle manual therapy through osteopathy along side physical rehabilitative therapy, mobility exercises, and strengthening exercises may help as well. If your pain is severe, you may be prescribed a short course of an oral pain killers. An epidural glucocorticoid injection may sometimes be given for persistent pain. Surgery is not usually considered unless significant pinching of the nerve is prevalent, you experience increasing difficulty moving, or there is evidence of spinal cord compression. The most commonly used surgical procedure to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or radicular nerves is anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. To learn more about neck pain and ways to treat and cure it, get in touch with our friendly team at Dynamic Osteopaths:
Info@DynamicOsteopaths.com