What is It?

Acute neck nerve root pain refers to the compression of the nerve as it exits from the cervical spine (neck).  This usually results from either irritation of a cervical disc (vertebral discs are located bweteen each vertebrae), or narrowing of the intervertebral foramen (a small hole between every vertebral level where the nerves exist the spine).  The narrowing can be due to osteophytes (bony outgrowths) or inflammation of nearby structures.

How Does It Feel?

Acute neck nerve root pain can often cause a burning pain, or some altered sensation such as numbness or pins & needles, into the arm and/or hand.  Neck pain may also be present but not exclusively.  Sometimes, pain can also be felt referring into the head.  Neck movement is likely to be restricted or can be associated with increased symptoms.

What Should I Do?

If you suspect you have acute neck nerve pain you should seek professional advice from an appropriately qualified Health Professional.  In the short-term you can try applying heat and or ice to your neck. ( **Please take care when icing the neck area as ice can burn**)

Some gentle, pain-free, rotation of the head and neck can be beneficial for pain-relief and can help to prevent the neck movements from stiffening further.  This is best done lying on your back with the head supported by a pillow.  DO NOT push the movement into a painful range and if your pain increases then you should stop immediately.   Try performing 3-5 sets of 15-20 repetitions of this exercise at regular intervals throughout the day.

As this condition can be very painful and can often have an inflammatory component to it, then some simple painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories may be indicated.  If you are considering taking either of these medications then you are advised to consult with your General Practitioner or another suitably qualified Health Professional, particularly if you take any other medication or have any medical or health issues.

What Shouldn’t I Do?

You shouldn’t ignore the problem and hope it will go away.  Try to ease off from any strenuous activities and avoid sitting in awkward positions or at a computer where possible.  If you ignore the symptoms it may lead to the problem getting worse which may prolong your recovery.  Where possible, do your best to avoid any activity that aggravates your pain – do not try to work through it.

Could There Be Any Long Term Effects?

Normally there are no long-term effects, as long as it is properly diagnosed and appropriately treated.  Recovery usually takes a matter of weeks but in some severe cases this may be prolonged.

Management

The assistance of appropriate Medical and Healthcare Professionals is important in the treatment of acute neck nerve root pain.  Initially they will be able to assist in diagnosing the problem and its severity.  From this they will be able to determine an appropriate treatment plan.  Some physiotherapy treatment may involve massage, joint mobilisation, exercise prescription and advice on activity modification.  Your G.P. may consider prescribing appropriate painkiller or anti-inflammatories to assist with pain control in the acute phase.  Once your pain has settled sufficiently your physiotherapist will be able to advance your exercise program and discuss environmental factors that could have contributed to your injury coming about in the first place therefore aiming to reduce the chances of the problem re-occurring.

Disclaimer: This information is not a substitute for medical advice and you should seek professional advice from a doctor, physiotherapist or other healthcare professional.