Bottom Line: Pain in your hand, wrist, or arm can be frustrating. You don't realize how much you use your arms and hands until pain, numbness, or tingling gets in the way. Most of us don't usually wonder "is my arm pain coming from my neck" right off the bat, but it's actually very common for arm pain to be traced back to a nerve issue in the neck.
Why it Matters: We've seen time and time again how hand, wrist, and arm pain often start with a neck problem. For example, when a spinal disc in your neck irritates or presses on a nerve, it can result in arm pain. Just like the power lines that bring electricity to your house, your brain and spinal cord split into individual nerve roots that deliver information to every part of your body. And it just so happens that the nerves in your neck are specifically focused on providing strength and sensation to your head and arms. Here’s what you should know:
-
A bulged or herniated disc in your neck can irritate or compress the nerves that travel to your hands, arms, and shoulders.
-
Improving spinal mobility, decreasing inflammation, and improving your posture may help prevent future episodes of neck and arm pain.
-
Over 86% of people who received chiropractic adjustments for the care of neck disc herniation showed improvement.
Next Steps:
Pain in the arm as a result of a pinched nerve in your neck very rarely requires surgery. Most people can find long-term relief with conservative options like the chiropractic care we provide in our practice. Adjustments are just one of the non-invasive tools we use to help reduce the irritation and inflammation in your neck so your body has time to heal. If you've been living with those nagging pains in your arms or neck day after day, give us a call. Together, we'll get to the root cause and design a complete plan to help you curb those symptoms and get your life back.
Science Source(s): Cervical Nerve Root Injections or Spinal Manipulative Therapy. JMPT. 2016.
