Managing Neck and Arm Pain

By Mudit Sharma, MD

Virginia Spine Specialists

. http://www.virginiaspinespecialists.com/

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Managing Neck and Arm Pain

Neck and arm pain can be a sign of nerve impingement in the spine and is a common experience among the adult population. Fortunately, in most instances, it is self-limiting and can improve without any treatment. We will focus on the episodes that do not get better or that do need specialized evaluation as soon as they appear.

We should always keep in mind that one of the common causes of arm pain that travels down may be related to problems with the heart. It is, therefore, important to first rule out a heart attack when there is a sudden onset of arm pain (usually on the left side) and other symptoms like crushing chest pain and shortness of breath.

When the onset of arm or neck pain is more gradual and has been ongoing for days to weeks, the cervical spine may be involved. The cervical spine is the upper part of the spine that makes up the neck. It consists of a bony canal that has seven vertebral bodies (bones) that are cushioned by a disc between each body. These bones form a hollow canal through which the spinal cord runs like a thick cable. There are holes in the spinal canal through which nerve roots exit from the spinal cord.

The discs of the cervical spine can rupture or degenerate and cause inflammation and pressure on these nerve roots or the spinal cord. The pressure and inflammation on the nerve roots are what cause the burning pain going down the arms. If the pressure is severe enough, there may be tingling and numbness of the arm and, in some cases, weakness of the arm may develop. Pressure on the spinal cord can result in a decreased ability to walk and an inability to move the arms or process sensory information.

Management of arm and neck pain originating from the cervical spine begins with conservative measures for at least a four-week period. These include anti-inflammatory medications such as naproxen, ibuprofen and, occasionally, steroids. Physical therapy also plays an important role in the initial management of neck and arm pain.

If there is no improvement in symptoms with the conservative approach, a referral to a neurosurgeon should be arranged for further evaluation. Such evaluations typically include getting an MRI of the cervical spine. If there is pressure on the spine or the nerve roots, surgery may be needed to fix these problems. It is important to note that if there is weakness of the arm, an urgent evaluation from a spine specialist should be obtained.

In experienced hands, surgery to fix a ruptured or degenerated cervical disc can be safe and successful. Depending on the source of the cervical spine problem, surgery can be done from the front or the back of the neck. The hospital stay is usually minimal with a speedy recovery, depending on the duration and severity of the neck and arm problems.

With proper help and the right specialized spinal care, neck and arm pain does not need to prevent you from living a normal, fulfilling life.