The nerve wound in the neck, what should I do?

Pinching of the cervical nerve is a fairly common pathology. It can be the result of a car accident, a sports injury, an unsuccessful fall or a sign of the most common aging. What should I do if I have a nerve in my neck? What are the primary symptoms of this problem?

general information

The compression of muscles or the so-called vertebral bodies of the nerve roots localized in the cervical spine can provoke unpleasant sensations, pain and even numbness. Otherwise, this condition in medicine is called radiculopathy. This pathology begins with the violation of metabolic processes directly in the intervertebral discs themselves (elastic rings with a nucleus in the center). They play the role of shock absorbers in the spine. Sometimes disks are destroyed or displaced, as a consequence, there is a pinching of the nerve roots. Let's notice, this problem is more often diagnosed recently, and even at young generation.

If the nerve in the neck is pinched, it is necessary to see a doctor, namely the neurologist. The thing is that this problem has a close connection with the functional disorder of the cervical department, which is characterized by intolerable pain. The CNS is considered one of the most complex structures in the body. That is why pathologies in her work should be handled exclusively by a professional.

Why the nerve of the neck? Main reasons

Currently, doctors identify several factors contributing to the development of this problem. In the first place, pinching can occur due to various disorders in the spinal discs. Due to some diseases or due to intense physical exertion, the softening properties of these discs are significantly reduced. As a result, they begin to squeeze out any nerve that goes directly from the spinal cord.

With this problem one has to face those people who already have pathologies of the vertebral structure at the innate level. Old age, passive lifestyle, hormonal imbalance, chronic diseases - all these factors can also be a cause of jamming. Sometimes specialists state the development of this pathology as a result of the appearance of a neoplasm, including malignant nature or the scar remaining after surgery.

What signs indicate a pinch?

There are eight cervical nerves in total. The embarrassment of absolutely any of them can cause painful discomfort, tingling and numbness in any part of the body. If the nerve in the neck is pinched, the very first symptom is the pain in the shoulder area. There may also be numbness in this area and muscle weakness.

Another symptom is pain and numbness in the hands, and discomfort can be felt right up to the thumb. In especially serious cases, dysfunction of the entire hand is noted. Some patients have problems with swallowing, headaches of varying intensity and signs of a sharp deterioration in the blood supply to the brain.

The nerve of the neck pinched. What should I do first?

Initially, doctors recommend taking those medicines that contribute to the coping of the pain syndrome. In this case, a drug called "Ibuprofen" has proved its worth. It is dispensed without a prescription. If you can not remove the pain syndrome, you should immediately seek qualified help.

What should be the treatment?

Therapy of this problem, as a rule, begins with the use of those medicines that are responsible for the removal of the pain syndrome and the reduction of inflammatory processes (Ibuprofen, Naproksen).

For the treatment of cervical spasms, muscle relaxants are also recommended, along with methocarbamol. They should be used with extreme caution, since they have a hypnotic effect. After taking such drugs, you can not drive or participate in other activities that require increased concentration.

When the neck is very bad (nasal congestion), doctors recommend injections of corticosteroids. It is important to note that this is a fairly radical technique, which should be resorted to exclusively if all of the above-listed councils are ineffective.

Physiotherapy is an excellent solution to eliminate pinch. It involves a whole complex of exercises aimed at strengthening the muscles of the neck. They should be performed under the supervision of a physiotherapist, since the likelihood of injury is high. Another therapy is a special therapeutic massage. It relaxes all muscles, which helps improve blood flow in the neck.

Not always by means of physio-and medicamentous therapy it is possible to quickly eliminate such pathology as radiculopathy (a situation when the nerve of the neck was pinched). What to do in this case? It is rare that doctors make a decision about surgical intervention. In this case, the specialist should take into account the patient's history, age and general condition. The rehabilitation period after the operation can last up to eight weeks.

How to relieve pain at home?

When a person has a nerve in his neck, he literally loses his efficiency for a while, not to mention the constantly harassing pain discomfort. To prevent the development of this problem or "solve" an existing one, you can perform simple exercises at home.

The simplest thing is bending the neck. It is necessary to stand up straight and tightly to press the chin to the chest. Then you should very slowly lift your chin up, tilting your head back. Such movements should be repeated five times, and after a 30-second break.

Another version of the exercise. It is necessary to connect both hands on the back of the head and try to push hard on them with your head, straining the muscles of your neck. In this position, you should stay about five seconds.

Conclusion

In this article, we talked about what to do if the nerve in the neck was pinched. Treatment and the causes of this pathology, as a rule, are interrelated. Despite this fact, experts do not recommend trying to overcome the problem on their own, it's better to seek help from qualified doctors.