Cervical (Neck) Discomfort May Not Be Caused by a Pinched Nerve in the Neck

At some point in our lives, nearly all of us will complain of neck stiffness or neck pain. When it happens to you, you may even describe this discomfort as a pinched nerve in the neck. However, it's important to keep in mind that a pinched nerve is a far more specific condition than simply having a "stiff neck." While neck pain can be caused by something as simple as stress, muscle tenseness, or overdoing it at the gym, actual neural compression only occurs when some anatomical abnormality exerts pressure on a spinal nerve. This abnormality can take the form of inflammation, a bone spur, a herniated or bulging disc, a shifted vertebra, spinal stenosis, or any of a number of other conditions brought on by degeneration, injury, lifestyle factors, or illness.

Alternative Causes of Neck Stiffness or Pain

The importance of knowing exactly what's causing your neck pain is extremely important when it comes to treatment. For instance, if you believe you may be suffering from a pinched nerve in the neck when you're really experiencing the initial stages of meningitis, the result could be fatal. Be sure to see a doctor if you suspect you're suffering from a pinched nerve so that he or she can rule out the following conditions:

How to Determine if Nerve Compression Is the Culprit

While you should always see a doctor for a pinched nerve diagnosis, you can the diagnostic process by reporting all of your symptoms honestly and accurately. A pinched nerve in the neck will likely cause symptoms of pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness to radiate through the neck, shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. You can identify this discomfort as neuropathic in nature because the pain signals are following the entire path of the compressed nerve. If your discomfort is always stationary and never seems to travel, there's a better chance that you are not suffering from a pinched cervical nerve.