Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It HappensSymptomsRisk FactorsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How It Happens
Symptoms
Risk Factors
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Pinched nervesin theneckare a common cause ofheadaches,muscle spasms, and other symptoms. They can be debilitating, but most of the time, symptoms clear up without medical treatment.
This article goes over how nerves in your neck become pinched, the possible symptoms, causes and risk factors, the diagnostic process, and treatment options for pinched nerves.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
What Is a Pinched Neck Nerve?
Nerves send messages between your brain and the rest of your body. The nerves in your neck and back branch off of thespinal cord, exit the spinal canal betweenvertebrae(the bones of your spine), and then travel through your body to connect to various tissues.
Nerve compression most often happens at the point where the nerve branches off.Bone spurs, aruptured disc, and abnormal or inflamed tissues may press on the nerve. The medical term for a pinched neck nerve iscervical radiculopathy.
A 2016 study suggests nearly two out of every 1,000 people are diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy. You’re most likely to develop it during your 40s and 50s and it’s more common in people assigned male at birth than those assigned female.
Physical Therapy for Cervical Radiculopathy
A pinched nerve in the neck can cause headaches plus pain in the:
Usually, the pain is on one side—the same side as your pinched nerve. The ache can spread down from the back of your skull to between the shoulder blades or up to your forehead, brow, and eye.
What Your Headache Location Means
Additional symptoms of a pinched nerve in the neck may include:
Often, symptoms will clear up on their own asinflammationand muscle spasms resolve—relieving excess pressure on the nerve.
Headaches from pinched nerves can mimic amigraine, but the source of pain is in your neck. If you have a pinched nerve, turning your neck, nodding, or holding it in one position for a long time (such as sitting at a computer) can trigger this type of headache.
Some medical conditions, includingcancerorspinal infection, can cause symptoms similar to a pinched nerve in the neck.
Migraine vs Headache: What’s the Difference?
Anyone can get a pinched nerve in the neck, and the symptoms can fluctuate. Up to 30% of people report pain while simply sitting, walking, or standing. Others feel it after sneezing or coughing.
Researchers say the most common risk factors associated with a pinched nerve in the neck include:
When to Get Medical AttentionIf you have new or changed headaches, call your healthcare provider if you also have any of the following symptoms:FeverSudden weight lossPain that’s much worse at nightA weakened immune systemA history of cancer
When to Get Medical Attention
If you have new or changed headaches, call your healthcare provider if you also have any of the following symptoms:FeverSudden weight lossPain that’s much worse at nightA weakened immune systemA history of cancer
If you have new or changed headaches, call your healthcare provider if you also have any of the following symptoms:
Most of the time, a pinched nerve is due to age-related changes in the spine that lead to one of the following conditions:
Pinched Nerve in Lower Back: What to Do and Avoid
To diagnose a pinched nerve, your healthcare provider will likely give you a physical exam and perform a few tests:
An MRI isn’t always necessary. Healthcare providers typically only order them if your symptoms came on after an injury or they suspect a concerning medical condition such as spinal cord problems, infection, stroke, or cancer.
Headaches Healthcare Provider Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next healthcare provider appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
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Most symptoms of a pinched nerve in the neck clear up on their own within six weeks.If treatment is necessary, it may include:
If treatments aren’t effective and you didn’t have an MRI during the diagnostic process, your healthcare provider may order imaging tests to figure out why you’re still having headaches.
Summary
A pinched nerve in the neck can cause headaches and pain that spreads into your shoulders, arm, and upper back. It can lead to tingling and numbness in your hands and fingers, as well.
Anyone can get a pinched nerve, but they’re more common in middle-aged to older people. They usually have to do with natural changes to your spine due to age.
Over-the-counter pain medicines can make you more comfortable. Physical therapy, chiropractic care, and wearing a neck collar can also help. Steroid injections are an option when those approaches don’t work well.
Learn MoreChiropractic for Headaches and Migraines
These headaches are unpredictable, with varying frequency and duration.They may come and go with episodes lasting a few hours or days.Learn MoreDo You Need to See a Headache Specialist?
These headaches are unpredictable, with varying frequency and duration.They may come and go with episodes lasting a few hours or days.
Learn MoreDo You Need to See a Headache Specialist?
Only in very severe cases. Normally, healthcare providers recommend anti-inflammatory medications, rest, a neck collar, physical therapy, massage, or steroid injections before considering surgery.If symptoms such as weakness and loss of coordination worsen, you may need surgery.Learn MoreSurgery for Cervical Radiculopathy
Only in very severe cases. Normally, healthcare providers recommend anti-inflammatory medications, rest, a neck collar, physical therapy, massage, or steroid injections before considering surgery.If symptoms such as weakness and loss of coordination worsen, you may need surgery.
Only in very severe cases. Normally, healthcare providers recommend anti-inflammatory medications, rest, a neck collar, physical therapy, massage, or steroid injections before considering surgery.
If symptoms such as weakness and loss of coordination worsen, you may need surgery.
Learn MoreSurgery for Cervical Radiculopathy
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Migraine Foundation.Cervicogenic headaches.
The Spine Hospital at the Neurological Institute of New York.Pinched nerve.
Childress MA, Becker BA.Nonoperative management of cervical radiculopathy.Am Fam Physician.2016;93(9):746-754.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve).
Xiao H, Peng B, Ma K, et al.The Chinese Association for the Study of Pain (CASP): Expert consensus on the cervicogenic headache.Pain Res Manag. 2019;2019:9617280. Published 2019 Apr 1. doi:10.1155/2019/9617280
Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS).The international classification of headache disorders, 3rd edition (beta version).Cephalalgia. 2013;33(9):629-808. doi:10.1177/0333102413485658Iyer S, Kim HJ.Cervical radiculopathy.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2016;9(3):272-80. doi:10.1007/s12178-016-9349-4
Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS).The international classification of headache disorders, 3rd edition (beta version).Cephalalgia. 2013;33(9):629-808. doi:10.1177/0333102413485658
Iyer S, Kim HJ.Cervical radiculopathy.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2016;9(3):272-80. doi:10.1007/s12178-016-9349-4
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