Trapped Nerve in the Neck (Cervical Radiculopathy): Causes and What May Help

A patient can come into my chiropractic clinic and describe pain shooting from the neck, down the arm, into their thumb alongside, perhaps, painful fingers sometimes with pins and needles too. They are often convinced something is very badly wrong. Usually, once I’ve examined them, I can explain what’s actually possibly happening in their case: a nerve root in the neck is irritated or compressed as it exits the spine, a problem doctors call cervical radiculopathy and patients usually call it a “trapped nerve” in the neck.

A trapped nerve in the neck is a different problem from ordinary neck stiffness, because the symptoms travel away from the source of the problem. Understanding that pattern is the first step to dealing with it.

“Leslie Budzynski set me on my course to recovery”

“I was suffering with a pinched nerve in my neck, causing pain in my neck upper back and down my right arm to my hands, with several numb fingers… Leslie Budzynski set me on my course to recovery, I started to improve after my first few visits and within six visits was 90% recovered. He started off by showing me a model of a spine and pointing out where my trapped nerve was and how the movement of the vertebrae when moving my head was pinching the nerve causing the pain to shoot down my arm. It is a very miserable time when you are in constant pain, Leslie knows exactly what you are going through, and his empathy and skill is worth every penny”.

Rob R

What is a trapped nerve in the neck?

Cervical radiculopathy happens when a nerve root is compressed or irritated or pinched where it leaves the cervical spine, most often at the C6 or C7 level in the lower neck.[1] Rather than staying in the neck, the pain, numbness or weakness follows the path of that specific nerve into the shoulder, arm and hand, often into particular fingers depending on which root is affected. This is what separates it from ordinary mechanical neck pain, where symptoms tend to stay local to the neck and shoulder blade.

It’s a common presentation in my clinic, it is not a rare or alarming diagnosis. Most cases settle with time and appropriate conservative care, though how quickly it does so varies from patient to patient.

What Causes a trapped nerve in the neck

The two most common causes of this type of neck pain are a herniated (bulging) disc pressing on the nerve root and cervical spondylosis, the gradual, age-related narrowing of the space the nerve passes through as the joints and discs wear.[1] Both can develop gradually or seem to appear after a specific awkward movement that was really just the final straw. Less commonly, it follows a neck injury. If wear-and-tear in the neck is the underlying picture then it’s worth reading the page linked here about mechanical neck pain as well, since the two often overlap.

Explore our neck and headache guides

Neck pain, headaches and migraines: the main guide

Neck pain and stiffness

Headaches and migraine

When the neck causes symptoms elsewhere

Trapped nerve and cervical radiculopathy: arm pain, pins and needles (you are here)
Dizziness linked to the neck
Pain between the shoulder blades

Related guides

Other areas of the body

Bones and joints

Symptoms of a trapped nerve in the neck

Patients typically describe a burning or shooting pain that runs from the neck through the shoulder blade and down the arm, often with numbness, tingling or pins and needles in specific fingers rather than the whole hand. Some notice weaker grip or find themselves dropping things without quite realising why. Neck movement, particularly tilting the head towards the affected side, often makes it worse and conversely, tilting away from the affected side, can make it more comfortable.

This, as I previously mentioned, is quite different from general neck stiffness, which stays local and doesn’t usually cause numbness past the shoulder. A trapped nerve in the neck is the cervical equivalent of sciatica in the lower back, the same kind of nerve root story, just affecting the arm rather than the leg.

cervical radiculopathy graphic showing how neck pain from a trapped nerve in the neck can cause arm and hand symptoms

How chiropractic care may help

Care for a trapped nerve in the neck usually combines gentle mobilisation of the cervical joints, soft tissue work and specific exercises, sometimes including nerve gliding movements, aimed at easing pressure on the irritated root and restoring normal movement.

A systematic review of manual therapy for cervical radiculopathy found it was associated with improved pain and function, but rated the overall evidence as very low to low quality and found no single technique was clearly superior to any other.[2]

Most patients improve over several weeks with conservative care of this kind, though the timeline depends on how compressed the nerve is and how long symptoms have been present. If you’re not improving as expected, or if anything suggests the nerve root story doesn’t fully explain your symptoms, I’ll say so and refer you on rather than continuing a plan that isn’t working. Your treatment is built around what your examination actually shows, not a fixed protocol for a “trapped nerve.”

If a trapped nerve in your neck is getting in the way of things you would rather be doing, come and talk it through. I offer a free 15-minute consultation, you can come in for a short no-obligation chat with no examination or treatment.

Book a free consultation

Or call for a chat on 01202 937568

Red flags: when to seek medical attention first

Most trapped nerves in the neck are not a sign of anything sinister and improve with conservative care. That said, a small number of cases involve the spinal cord itself rather than just a single nerve root and these need medical assessment rather than chiropractic care first.[4] See your GP urgently, call 111 or go to A&E if you notice symptoms in both arms or your legs as well, an unsteady walk, new clumsiness in your hands, new problems with bladder or bowel control, weakness that’s rapidly getting worse rather than just pain, severe pain that stops you sleeping or any of this following significant trauma.

These features point towards the spinal cord rather than a single nerve root and need proper investigation before anyone starts hands on treatment. I screen for them at every first visit.

Booking your first visit to Bournemouth Chiropractic

Your first visit includes a detailed medical history of exactly where your symptoms travel and which fingers are affected, plus tests such as Spurling’s test and cervical distraction, which are useful for confirming a nerve root problem when positive but aren’t reliable enough alone to rule one out.[3] I’ll also check your reflexes, strength and sensation, explain what I find and agree a plan with you before any treatment begins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a chiropractor help with a trapped nerve in the neck?

Chiropractic care may help ease pressure on the nerve root and support recovery, though the research behind manual therapy for this specific condition is still fairly limited. Many cases improve with time regardless of treatment. I’ll give you an honest assessment at your first visit rather than assuming chiropractic is the right answer before I’ve examined you.

How is a trapped nerve in my neck different from sciatica?

Trapped nerve in your neck and sciatica are essentially the same kind of problem, a compressed or irritated nerve root, just in the neck rather than in your lower back, so the symptoms travel into the arm instead of the leg. The assessment and general approach are similar, though the specific nerve roots and tests involved are different.

How is this different from a stiff neck or mechanical neck pain?

Mechanical neck pain generally stays in the neck and shoulder area. A trapped nerve produces pain, numbness or weakness that travels further, often into specific fingers, because a nerve root rather than just a joint or muscle is involved.

Do I need a scan for a trapped nerve?

Not usually straight away. Most cases of trapped nerves are diagnosed from your history and examination and imaging is reserved for symptoms that aren’t settling, are getting worse or if there are red flag features suggesting something more than a straightforward nerve root problem.

How do I know when I should go to A&E instead of booking a chiropractic appointment?

If you have symptoms in both arms or your legs, an unsteady walk, new hand clumsiness, bladder or bowel changes, or rapidly worsening weakness, go to A&E or call 111 rather than booking with me. These need assessment first.

Whatever's behind your trapped nerve, come and find out

There are a lot of possible causes behind a trapped nerve in the neck area and a good first step is nearly always a proper assessment. If that's getting in the way of your day-to-day life, I'd happily see you to find out whether chiropractic may help. During your consultation I'll take a full medical history, examine you carefully and answer your questions about what is going on.

A trapped nerve in the neck is a very common reason people come and see me here at my clinic in Bournemouth and Poole.

In many of the cases I see, chiropractic care is a very well-tolerated option worth considering and I'll explain clearly whether it's likely to help in your particular case. If I think you'd be better served by your GP, a specialist or another practitioner, I'll say so and help point you in the right direction. Either way, you'll leave knowing more than when you arrived.

There's no pressure and no obligation, just come in, get assessed and let's find you a way forward.

The first step is just a conversation. Call or message me, whatever's easiest and we'll take it from there.

Book an appointment Message on WhatsApp

Or call for a chat on 01202 937568

References

[1] Kang KC, Lee HS, Lee JH. Cervical Radiculopathy Focus on Characteristics and Differential Diagnosis. Asian Spine Journal. 2020;14(6):921-930. doi: 10.31616/asj.2020.0647

[2] Borrella-Andrés S, et al. Manual Therapy as a Management of Cervical Radiculopathy: A Systematic Review. BioMed Research International. 2021. doi: 10.1155/2021/9936981

[3] Lin LH, Lin TY, Chang KV, Tzang CC, Wu WT, Özçakar L. Diagnostic Performance of Spurling’s Test for the Assessment of Subacute and Chronic Cervical Radiculopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 2025;104(8):717-723. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002707

[4] McCartney S, Baskerville R, Blagg S, McCartney D. Cervical radiculopathy and cervical myelopathy: diagnosis and management in primary care. British Journal of General Practice. 2018;68(666):44-46. doi: 10.3399/bjgp17X694361

Medical Disclaimer

The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it a substitute for diagnosis, treatment, or guidance from a qualified healthcare practitioner. If you have any health concern, please consult your GP or another appropriately qualified clinician. Chiropractic treatment isn’t suitable for everyone. Suitability is assessed at your initial consultation, with referral to another healthcare professional made where appropriate. Treatment outcomes vary between individuals, and no guarantee of results is made or implied.

Practitioner: Leslie Budzynski D.C. | Doctor of Chiropractic | GCC registration: 00043 | BCA membership number: 0072