We have all suffered with neck pain at one time or another with varying degrees of intensity and careful diagnosis is key to the correct treatment. There is a wide range of causes including joint wear and tear in the bones of the neck (the cervical spine), imbalance in the neck muscles and slightly less obvious problems in the shoulders, arms, upper back and even the pelvis.
We have all suffered with neck pain at one time or another with varying degrees of intensity and careful diagnosis is key to the correct treatment. There is a wide range of causes including joint wear and tear in the bones of the neck (the cervical spine), imbalance in the neck muscles and slightly less obvious problems in the shoulders, arms, upper back and even the pelvis.
The nerves that send information to and from our arms and hands exit the spinal cord through the small spaces between the bones of the cervical spine. From here, they pass via a tunnel of neck muscles before weaving their way around the bones and muscles of the shoulder and arm to the hands. It is no wonder then, that there are several places along this hazardous journey where the nerves can be compressed giving rise to pins and needles, numbness and in severe cases, loss of power to one or more muscles.
But why would the nerves become compressed?
Lets start with trauma to the cervical spine itself from a head or neck injury or simply degenerative changes.
Next, the triangular ‘tunnel’ of muscles on each side of the neck – the ‘scalenes’. Do you read, use your computer or do crafts with your head tilted for long periods of time? Any of these activities can lead to neck strain, headaches, dizziness and pins and needles in the arms or hands.