The spine in the neck is made up of seven cervical vertebrae that house the spinal cord. Branching off of the cord at each level are spinal nerves. A pinched nerve in the neck occurs when too much pressure is applied to one of the spinal nerves or delicate nerve roots. It can be caused by several surrounding structures and proper diagnosis is necessary to determine appropriate treatment. According to Gary Cordingley, MD, PhD, pain is a very prominent symptom of a pinched nerve, but it often covers up many other important diagnostic symptoms, such as numbness and tingling.
Herniated Disc
The cervical intervertebral disc is made up of two layers. The tough, fibrous outer layer, called the annulus, contains the soft, jellylike inner structure, called the nucleus. Either through injury or repetitive stress, the annulus can develop cracks that allow a portion of the nucleus to bulge out of its normal confines. Spinal nerves branch off of the spinal cord and travel down the neck and arm, into the fingers. Each of these nerves supplies sensation and motor control to various areas of skin and certain muscles. When a disc herniates, it can put pressure on the roots of these nerves and cause symptoms anywhere along the pathway of the nerve. Pressure on the nerve caused by a herniated disc can lead to muscle weakness, pain, numbness and tingling or other loss of sensation. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, there is also evidence that chemicals released from a herniated disc can also lead to an irritated nerve root and pain.
Bone Spurs
Bone spurs, also called osteophytes, are smooth outgrowths of bone that develop on the edges of the vertebrae in response to added stress or disease. They are a common occurrence with osteoarthritis, which involves wear-and-tear breakdown of the joints and cartilage. Bone spurs are not painful in and of themselves, according to MayoClinic.com, but can invade the space of a spinal nerve and put pressure directly on the nerve, leading to symptoms of pain, numbness, loss of range of motion and muscle weakness.
Tumor
A tumor that develops within the cervical spine can put pressure on spinal nerves or directly on the spinal cord and cause symptoms of a pinched nerve or cervical radiculopathy. Case studies published by the National Institutes of Health have shown that several different types of tumors, such as a lung tumor or a brain tumor, mimic the symptoms usually associated with a pinched nerve in the cervical spine.
Instability
Instability can develop in the cervical spine through traumatic injury or long-term degeneration. In this case, the ligaments that surround the spine and are responsible for maintaining its integrity become torn or stretched and allow too much motion to occur. This allows one or more vertebrae to slip forward and create a condition referred to as spondylolisthesis. This instability can create pressure and cause symptoms of a pinched nerve.
