Treatment of a pinched nerve in the cervical spine

Causes of a pinched nerve in the neck

A pinched nerve occurs when the nerve roots extending from the spinal cord are compressed by neighboring vertebrae, intervertebral discs, muscles and various pathological formations.

The main reasons leading to a pinched nerve:

• osteochondrosis,
• disc herniation,
• spondyloarthrosis,
• spondylolisthesis,
• injuries,
• oncological disease.

Pinching of the nerve root of the cervical spine can be caused by:

• sudden turn of the head
• sedentary lifestyle and weakness of supporting muscles,
• physical and emotional overload,
• hypothermia,
• acute diseases and exacerbation of chronic diseases,
• endocrine disorders.

Disease prevention

Treating a pinched cervical spine is long and difficult, but it is possible if you follow measures to prevent the disease.

Those who have already suffered this pain simply need to follow the following measures:

Main methods of prevention:

• use of orthopedic pillows and mattresses;
• At work, be sure to take a break and warm up your neck;
• visiting the pool, yoga classes are useful;
• a course of therapeutic massage under the supervision of a specialist;
• when working sedentarily, take breaks and get up;
• do not lift heavy objects;
• avoid hypothermia (wear warm scarves and collars in winter);
• carry out exercises to maintain muscle tone.

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Home exercises for preventative care:

• tilt the head back and forth and left and right for 1 minute. Perform the activity smoothly without harshness and without haste;
• pressing the head in turn to the right and left shoulders with a delay of 1 minute for each;
• kneading the shoulders up and down to the head twice;
• bend forward, pressing your chin to your chest. You can press your hands on the back of your head.

Neck pinching is an unpleasant problem, but quite treatable. The disease can only be treated by a professional doctor; you should not succumb to popular advice, thereby aggravating the situation.

Signs

Symptoms of a pinched nerve in the cervical spine are quite characteristic and vivid. Patients primarily complain of shooting or pulling pain in the neck, which can spread to the back of the head, shoulder and arm. When turning and tilting the head, the pain intensifies. Muscle spasms, decreased flexibility of the cervical spine, numbness and tingling in the upper extremities are noted.

Compared to the thoracic and lumbar spine, the cervical spine is distinguished by the presence of cerebral vessels.

Among the most common symptoms caused by vascular compression are the following:

• headaches, migraines,
• frequent dizziness both in a calm state and with a sudden change of position,
• memory loss,
• decreased performance,
• fast fatiguability.

Disorders in the cervical spine require immediate consultation with a doctor, as untimely treatment can lead to complications such as:

• paralysis and paresis,
• disruption of the innervation of the oral cavity with speech impairment and difficulty swallowing,
• When the cervical nerve and cervical arteries are simultaneously pinched, there is a risk of ischemic stroke.

Diagnostics

If you experience discomfort in the neck, you must first contact a qualified specialist, who will carry out diagnostic measures:

• He will conduct a survey and examination to find out when the manifestations began, what kind of pain the patient is suffering from, and in what area of ​​the cervical spine.
• The doctor orders an x-ray for a detailed examination of the neck area.
• As an additional diagnosis, magnetic resonance imaging is prescribed, which will help visualize intervertebral hernias and protrusions.
• You can also determine whether a pinched nerve is using electromyography - an examination that determines how well the transmission of nerve impulses occurs in the cervical vertebrae.

Neck pain worsens a person’s quality of life and reduces performance, so it is impossible to leave a pinched nerve without treatment.

How to treat

To treat the disease, an integrated approach is required. Using several methods simultaneously to treat a pinched nerve in the cervical spine is most effective.

What to do if your neck muscle is pinched? First aid at home is to lay the patient on a flat, hard surface for 1 hour and give him an anesthetic. After the pain has decreased, you should go to a medical facility and see a doctor.

Drug treatment

When a cervical vertebra is pinched, drug treatment includes painkillers and muscle relaxants that have sedative and anti-inflammatory properties. Wearing a fixing collar will ensure immobility of the cervical spine.

The doctor decides how to treat cervical osteochondrosis and pinched nerves. The most common groups of products are warming ointments, tablets and injections. Their action is aimed at reducing pain and inflammation.

The following groups of drugs are prescribed:

1. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Nimesulide.
2. Strong analgesics , their use is advisable only when absolutely necessary.
3. Muscle relaxants . The mechanism of action is to reduce muscle spasm and relax muscle fibers, due to which the nerve roots are released and pain is alleviated, and pinched neck muscles are relieved. Central muscle relaxants are used: Baclofen, Tizanidine, Cyclobenzaprine, Methocarbamol.
4. B vitamins to improve metabolic processes: Vitaxon, Milgamma.
5. Hodroprotectors for the restoration of cartilage tissue: “Teraflex”, “Arthra”.
6. Corticosteroids . Their use is a rather radical measure. Drugs in this group can cause serious side effects, so hormonal drugs are used only when other medications are ineffective.

Physiotherapy

The main goal of physiotherapy is to improve the general condition of a person. The method relieves muscle spasms and pain.

The most popular methods of physiotherapy:

• UHF therapy,
• paraffin therapy,
• laser treatment,
• ultrasound and magnetic therapy,
• acupuncture.

Physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed taking into account the general condition of the patient and concomitant diseases.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy quickly eliminates pain and restores mobility of the cervical spine. It will relieve tension, which relieves pressure on the pinched nerve.

The patient feels the effect of the procedure after the first session. Manual therapy is performed only by highly qualified specialists. Incorrect movement during a treatment session for a pinched vertebra can lead to disability for the patient.

Therapeutic gymnastics exercise therapy and massage

Massage improves blood circulation and metabolic processes, eliminates pinched muscles. Relaxation reduces the level of nerve compression. Massage is effective when combined with exercise.

Therapeutic exercises relieve the negative manifestations of the disease, accelerate the recovery process, and also prevent relapses of the disease.

Let's look at a few effective exercises:

1. Lying on your back, take 20 smooth and even breaths. Hold your breath for 10 seconds, then exhale. Do several approaches.
2. Starting position: lying on your stomach. Raise your chest and head as high as possible, then smoothly return to your original position. Repeat the exercise 15-20 times in 2-3 approaches.
3. Starting position - lying on your back, legs bent at the knees. Raise your body and alternately tilt it to the left and right. Repeat the exercise 15-20 times for several approaches.

Surgical intervention

If conservative therapy does not produce results, surgical treatment is resorted to. The decision to operate is made taking into account circumstances such as the patient's age and general health.

Surgery is aimed at decompressing the nerves, eliminating hernias, osteophytes or neoplasms, followed by stabilization of the cervical spine. Full recovery occurs on average after 2-3 months .

Folk remedies

In the treatment of pinching, it is important to use all available methods; folk remedies are used with extreme caution. There are many recipes, but the relevance of use depends on the form of the pathology.

What is useful for a simple pinched nerve may be contraindicated for arterial compression. Before using any of the recipes suggested below, consult your doctor:

• a bath with a decoction of chamomile, nettle, calamus, sage and oak or spruce bark (250 g of the mixture per 3 liters of water, pre-boil and add to a full bath),
• compresses with a decoction of black radish and rye flour in equal proportions,
• ointment from 20 g fat, 1 tbsp. l. crushed hop cones,
• fir oil combined with the same portion of valerian,
• 1 spoon of juniper combined with 6 spoons of chopped bay leaf - pour the powder with hot butter.

Exercises for self-relief of pain

Do the exercises in the following sequence: stroking, rubbing, kneading:

1. Place your hands on the neck area and begin stroking movements from top to bottom, grasping it. You can work with both hands or alternately.
2. Next, start making rubbing circular movements with your fingertips. The hands are already used to it and do not slide over the skin, but only move. Don't forget about the shoulder area - there are painful points here.
3. Go to kneading. It consists of squeezing the shoulders with both hands at the same time.
4. Pay attention to massaging the points of attachment of the neck muscles to the head. It is advisable to massage every centimeter for about a minute in the scalp area. Perform the action with your thumb and hands clasping your head.
5. The next exercise is shaking the head forward, left, right. You shouldn't go back. The head should spring back about - one, two, three. Finish with circular movements clockwise and back.

A feeling of relaxation, warmth, and pleasant tone appears in the neck.

What methods can be used during pregnancy?

If a pregnant woman’s neck is pinched, the choice of pain relief methods is significantly reduced. Many effective methods, such as rubbing with vodka or warming ointments, are contraindicated during pregnancy due to possible side effects on the fetus. Hot baths are also not suitable for expectant mothers, as they can cause premature onset of labor, provoke miscarriage or placental abruption. If a pregnant woman has a pinched neck, she should consult a doctor. In extreme cases, you can use the methods below: they are easy to use and safe for women and children.

Valerian officinalis (valerian) is a well-known sedative that is used to combat stress and emotional instability. Few people know that valerian tincture can also be used as an anesthetic for dental, headache, muscle and joint pain. To alleviate the condition, apply 30 drops of tincture to a gauze pad or bandage and apply to the sore spot. You need to keep the compress until the pain goes away.

Warm salt copes well with chronic inflammatory processes and is used for dry warming of the sinuses, neck, and lower back. In case of osteochondrosis or pinched cervical nerve, salt should be used in the following way:

• Heat 100 g of sea salt (if not, you can use regular table salt) to a temperature of 45-50°C;
• wrap the salt in a thick cotton cloth or bag;
• apply to the site of inflammation.

If the bag is very hot, you should place a piece of gauze or a cotton napkin under it. Keep the compress for 20-30 minutes.

Drevmass simulator

The most common cause of a pinched cervical nerve is inattention to one’s health. There are basic, basic principles, the observance of which will help to significantly reduce the risk of developing diseases of the spinal column.

These basic principles will help you prevent disease and thereby save time, money and nerves.

Daily exercises will replace regular and expensive visits to a massage therapist.

The device can be used by all family members, both for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Drevmass is useful for prevention, treatment, rehabilitation after injuries and surgical interventions.

If the cervical nerve is pinched, Drevmass will help:

• Eliminate increased muscle tone;
• Reduce pain;
• Cope with numbness;
• Improve local and general blood circulation;
• Prevent progression of pathology.

The exercise machine is made of natural wood, which ensures its strength and durability. You can take it with you on a trip and continue studying on vacation and on business trips. The complete set of the simulator will allow you to choose the optimal configuration and make it as convenient as possible for you.

Multifunctionality will make it possible to simultaneously treat several diseases.

Popular questions:

How long does it take to treat?

It is impossible to answer this question unambiguously. The duration of treatment depends on many factors, for example, on the stage of the pathology, the individual characteristics of the body, and the methods used for treatment. On average, the course of therapy lasts 4-6 weeks. However, in mild forms of the disease, the effect occurs much earlier.

Dizziness when pinched: how to provide first aid to a patient?

When nerve endings in the neck are pinched, dizziness often occurs. They often appear when changing body position. If this symptom occurs, it is necessary to place the patient on high pillows and place them under the shoulders and shoulder blades. After this, you need to ensure a flow of fresh air - open the window, unfasten tight clothes, etc.

Will an MRI show a pinched nerve?

Magnetic resonance imaging is one of the methods for diagnosing a pinched cervical nerve. It is necessary to conduct an examination as early as possible, because the sooner treatment begins, the more effective it will be.

It is important to remember that it is better to prevent the development of a particular pathology than to treat it later. To prevent pinching of the cervical nerve, it is necessary to strengthen the muscle tissue in the neck area with the help of special gymnastics, swimming in the pool and yoga. It is also better to give preference to resting on an orthopedic pillow. Thanks to these simple recommendations, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of cervical nerve entrapment.