Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatments

Numbness in your neck might feel like your neck is tingling or like it’s “asleep.” It’s usually caused by an issue with the spinal cord or other nerves. In some cases, it may be caused by conditions like migraines or multiple sclerosis.

There are many potential causes of neck numbness, many of which also cause neck pain. Most are treatable, but may require a doctor’s visit.

Herniated disc

Discs are the cushions between vertebrae. They have a soft center and a harder outside layer. With herniated discs, also called slipped discs, some of the soft center comes out through the outside layer, which can irritate nearby nerves. This usually happens in the lower back or neck.

Normal aging is the most common cause, but heavy lifting with improper form can also herniate a disc. When the nerves in the neck are irritated by a disc, it can cause numbness around the neck and shoulders.

Other symptoms of a herniated disc include:

• weakness in the body parts served by affected nerves
• numbness or tingling in the body parts served by affected nerves
• arm or leg pain, depending on the location of the herniated disc

Pinched nerve

A pinched nerve occurs when a nerve in your neck gets compressed or irritated where it branches away from the spinal cord. It may happen because of an injury, or from changes in your spine as you age.

Pinched nerves usually respond to over-the-counter pain medication and physical therapy, but may require surgery.

Other symptoms include:

• muscle weakness in your arm and hand
• numbness in your arm and hand
• pain that radiates into your shoulder

Cervical stenosis

Cervical stenosis is a condition in which your spinal canal is too narrow for the spinal cord and nerves. This can cause damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots. It may be caused by:

• degenerative arthritis
• having smaller than average bones that line the spinal canal
• rheumatoid arthritis
• having the ligament that runs down the spinal cord increase in size

Other symptoms include:

• neck pain
• numbness in your arms or hand
• pain on one or both arms
• electrical sensation in your spine when you move your head

Neck injury

Neck injuries, such as a sports injury or whiplash from a motor vehicle collision, can cause other symptoms, including:

• arm and shoulder pain
• headache
• facial pain
• dizziness
• stiffness

A neck injury can be serious. See a doctor as soon as possible if you injure your neck.

Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system disease that damages myelin, the substance that surrounds nerve fibers. This stops or disrupts messages in the central nervous system. The causes of MS are unknown.

Other symptoms of MS include:

• fatigue
• issues with walking or gait
• numbness and tingling throughout your body
• weakness
• dizziness
• pain
• vision problems
• spasticity

Infections

Infections like meningitis and the flu can cause neck numbness. Meningitis causes inflammation around the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms come on suddenly and should be immediately evaluated by a doctor.

Other symptoms of infection that can cause neck numbness include:

• headaches
• body aches
• vomiting
• neck stiffness (severe in meningitis)

Nerve damage

Nerves in the neck can be damaged by disc issues, such as a herniated disc. They can also be damaged by a spinal cord injury or long-term side effects of certain medications. These are serious health issues that require immediate treatment from a healthcare professional.

Nerve damage may also cause issues with walking and moving.

Arthritis

Arthritis in the neck, also called cervical spondylosis, is a common, age-related condition. It often causes no noticeable symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they might include neck pain and stiffness than improves when resting or lying down.

Migraine

Migraines are recurring headaches that cause moderate to severe throbbing pain, especially on one side of the head. Researchers think they may have a genetic cause, but are often triggered by certain habits or environmental factors.

There are four phases of migraine, with different symptoms:

• Prodrome. This occurs about 24 hours before a migraine and includes early signs and symptoms like food cravings or mood changes.
• Aura. You might see flashing or bright lights and have muscle weakness. It happens right before or during a migraine.
• Headache. During the migraine itself, you might have nausea, pain on one side of your head, and increased sensitivity to light and noise.
• Postdrome. You might feel exhausted or weak for up to a day after your headache.

Stress and anxiety

Stress and anxiety can cause the muscles in your neck and shoulders to tense. This can cause pain, numbness, and other neck issues. Moving your head may be painful.

Some causes of neck numbness also cause numbness in nearby areas of the body. Below are several symptoms related to neck numbness, and their potential causes.

Numbness in neck and shoulder

• stress and anxiety
• pinched nerve
• arthritis

Numbness in neck and jaw

• stroke
• tumor in jaw

Medical emergency

A stroke is a medical emergency. Call or have someone else call 911 and seek immediate help. If you think you have a lump in your jaw, you should see a doctor immediately.

Numbness in back of neck and head

• migraine
• pinched nerve
• MS

Neck pain with arm numbness or tingling

• pinched nerve
• cervical stenosis
• herniated disc

To diagnose the cause of your neck numbness, a doctor will ask about your general health, if you’ve had any recent injuries, and whether you have other symptoms. They’ll then do a physical exam, and see how well you can move your neck, head, and arms.

If a doctor suspects an infection, they might do a blood test. They might also order imaging tests, including:

• electromyography (EMG) or a nerve conduction study to see if your nerves are functioning normally
• MRI or CT scan to see if you have damage to soft tissues, such as a hernia, and to look at your bones
• X-ray to look at your spine

There are many treatments for neck numbness. Some can be done at home, and others require a doctor’s supervision or recommendation.

Home remedies

• Use good posture.
• Avoid carrying heavy bags on your shoulder.
• Adjust your desk and chair so your computer monitor is at eye level when sitting.
• Sleep in a position that aligns your head and neck with the rest of your body.
• Quit smoking (this can be difficult, but a doctor can help you come up with a plan that’s right for you).
• Relieve stress and anxiety.
• Apply ice and heat.

The following stretches can also help relieve pain and numbness in your neck and shoulders:

• Neck stretch. Place your hand on the top of your head and gently pull to the side of the hand holding your head. Hold for 30 seconds, then repeat on the other side.
• Chin tuck. Put your fingers on your chin and gently press in so you have a “double chin.” Hold for three to five seconds, then relax. Repeat.
• Neck bend. Gently move your chin towards your chest. Pause and return to the starting position. Repeat five to 10 times.

Medical treatment

• over-the-counter pain medication, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• muscle relaxants
• physical therapy
• corticosteroid injections or oral corticosteroids
• nerve block
• surgery

Surgery can treat some conditions that cause neck numbness, such as cervical stenosis, a severe pinched nerve, or herniated disc. However, it should not be considered without first trying conservative treatment, like rest, heat and ice, and physical therapy.

Potential surgeries include spinal fusion and disc replacement.

Many causes of neck numbness are treatable with home treatments like rest and practicing good posture. However, others can be serious. If you have neck numbness that at-home remedies don’t help, see a doctor to rule out more serious conditions.

Tingling in Neck, Upper Body with Multiple Sclerosis

Q1. I have had MS for almost 20 years now. The past couple of weeks, my shoulder and the side of my neck up into my face and sometimes up to my hairline tingles. Is this common with MS or another cause?

Tingling of the shoulder, neck up to the face can occur for many reasons. This can occur with multiple sclerosis; however, it can also occur with irritation of nerves in the neck due to “a pinched nerve in the neck” either from arthritis or a disc problem in the neck. It would certainly be important to be sure there is not an anatomical problem irritating the nerve going to your neck, with an MRI of the neck to be certain that there is not a physical problem rather than just attributing it all to multiple sclerosis. Thus, MRI of the neck could be performed as well as an electrical test called an EMG, which checks the nerves and the muscles in the arm to see if there is a problem with the nerves and muscles, which would not be related to multiple sclerosis. If all these other studies are negative, then it could be possible that this could be related to multiple sclerosis.

Q2. I am a 44-year-old female. I’ve been having tingling and burning feelings in my arms and legs. I also get muscle twitches in my legs. I had a MRI of my lumbar spine, and it was okay. I am a diabetic. Could these problems caused by the diabetes or by my MS?

Tingling and burning feelings in the arms and legs as well as muscle twitches in the legs are nonspecific symptoms. By that, I mean they can have multiple causes. It could be related to multiple sclerosis if there was inflammation in the spine or brain. However, being diabetic, it can also be associated with problems in the peripheral nerves secondary to complications of diabetes which would be completely unrelated to multiple sclerosis. Although the MRI of the lumbar spine was okay, multiple sclerosis might cause lesions within the brain or the cervical spinal cord which could cause these symptoms. Also nerve conduction testing or “EMG” might be considered to determine if there is a problem caused by the diabetes in the peripheral nerves.

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Shoulder and neck pain: causes and treatment

To find out what the treatment of pain in the neck and shoulders will be, what are the causes of such an unpleasant symptom, any person may need. Pain syndrome sometimes appears in both a child and an adult, in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle or are active and mobile. In some cases, the cause of pain is insignificant, and sometimes it requires timely intervention by a specialist and treatment, since it is fraught with extremely unpleasant consequences.

What you need to know

Often the symptom manifests itself on one side of the neck, after which the pain spreads to the shoulder area. This pain in the shoulders and neck is not limited, it begins to capture the joints, which significantly reduces the mobility of the upper limbs. If the pain in the upper limbs intensifies and does not allow normal hand movements, bending over, then the disease is progressing and requires immediate medical intervention. Often the disease begins to manifest itself as follows:

unable to turn the head normally, severe pain occurs.

If you have pain in the neck and shoulders, the causes, treatment will sound neurologist who will determine what triggered such symptoms.

Causes

There are two types of situations in which pain in the shoulders and cervical spine can be observed. Namely:

1. Anatomical changes.
2. Pathological processes in the organs, due to which the pain radiates to the neck and shoulders.

In the first case, pain occurs because muscles, bones, blood vessels, ligaments and other parts of the musculoskeletal system are affected. Such pathologies can spread to neighboring organs and tissues, forming an overall clinical picture. In the second case, a disease of the heart or gallbladder could occur. Often among the symptoms of diseases of these organs, there is irradiation of pain in the shoulders and neck. Sometimes the situation is so serious that the person needs to be hospitalized immediately.

Shoulder and neck pathologies

The collar zone includes muscle tissues located in the neck, bone structures, a canal through which the spinal cord passes, and shoulder joints. The most important and largest muscle here is the trapezius, the branches of which are in the neck and reach nearby organs. In addition, there is a mass of nerve processes and vessels through which blood flows. A disease of any structure can provoke severe pain, and a person will have to think carefully about what it is when the shoulders and neck hurt.

Muscular divisions

Pain associated with muscles in such a situation usually occurs in people who have been in an uncomfortable position for a long time and lead a sedentary lifestyle. Often faced with such a problem:

If the neck and shoulder hurt on the right or left due to being in one position for a long time, then we are not talking about any serious methods of treatment. It is enough to warm up properly, take a walk, take a warm shower, and you can forget about the pain.

Intervertebral cartilage

If the fact is that the pain is associated with the cartilaginous tissue between the vertebrae, then most likely we are talking about osteochondrosis. This unpleasant disease leads to the fact that the neck and shoulder hurt on the right or left side, the pain spreads to the arms, back and sternum. The disease does not manifest itself for a long time, and acute symptoms occur already when the intervertebral discs began to collapse, thinned and the distance between the vertebrae decreased, which caused the nerve endings to be infringed. It is important to consult a doctor on time, even if the pain is insignificant.

Shoulder joint

It hurts the neck and shoulder on the right or left side, often due to the fact that the shoulder joint is affected. It is usually affected by arthritis or periarthritis (which is an inflammation of the joint that does not affect its capsule). Sometimes you may encounter rheumatoid arthritis when the disease affects the intervertebral joints. In this case, there is a strong reddening of the skin, an increase in its temperature, as well as a sharp limitation of the mobility of the affected area. Remember that when it comes to the spine, you should not hesitate to visit a doctor, as the disease can be serious. Some diseases in the later stages are not treated, a person loses the ability to even serve himself on his own and becomes a severely disabled person.

Spinal artery

Treatment of a condition when the shoulder and neck hurts can be complicated by the fact that for a long time it is not possible to determine the cause of discomfort. In addition, they are joined by symptoms that, it would seem, have nothing to do with shoulder pain:

In this situation, the doctor may suspect that you have vertebral artery syndrome. Often mistakenly diagnosed as “vegetovascular dystonia”, however, in this case, the treatment does not bring the long-awaited improvement in well-being.

Possible complications

When a person thinks about why his neck and shoulders hurt, he often decides that the problem is that he has a cold nerve or pulled a muscle. However, this symptom can hide very serious diseases that will manifest themselves later, but in a more serious form. For example, if this is a manifestation of osteochondrosis, later the disease will manifest itself with severe throbbing pain, lead to hypertension, worsen the performance of the cardiovascular system, negatively affect vision, lead to deafness and lack of coordination in space, as well as the inability of a person to control limb movements. Clamping of the artery will lead to cerebral ischemia, spinal stroke. Sciatica will provoke problems with blood vessels and the vertebral artery, can cause a hernia and even death. Each disease is fraught with a lot of complications, so you need to pay attention to the manifestations of diseases in time and contact the doctors.

Methods of treatment

What to do and how to be treated if your shoulders and neck are very sore? After the diagnosis is established, the person will be prescribed adequate treatment, which will include drug therapy, exercises for pain in the shoulders and neck, as well as physiotherapy.

Medicines

Everything will depend entirely on what disease led to pain in the neck and shoulders. You can be assigned:

In addition to drug therapy, physiotherapy is prescribed.

Physiotherapy

Often, physiotherapy is also prescribed for pain in the shoulders and neck. These can be mud baths, acupuncture, magnetotherapy techniques, reflexology, and sometimes electrophoresis is also used. The type of procedure will depend entirely on what disease caused severe pain in the shoulders that radiate to the neck.

You can make an appointment with specialists online or call 8 (812) 901-03-03.

Neck pain – causes, what diseases it occurs in, diagnosis and treatment methods

Pain in the neck – the causes of occurrence, in which diseases it occurs, diagnosis and methods of treatment.

Almost two-thirds of people have experienced neck pain at least once in their lives – cervicalgia. Such pain does not always indicate a serious illness. But if relapses occur more and more often, this can be an alarming signal.

Types of pain

Conventionally, the causes of cervicalgia are divided into two groups:

1. arising from diseases of the spine (herniated discs, arthrosis, dysfunction of the intervertebral joints) and subluxation of the vertebrae (whiplash). The consequences of such injuries can manifest themselves throughout life;
2. arising from other causes: infectious and endocrine diseases, tumor processes, rheumatism.

Possible causes

Myofascial syndrome

Prolonged overstrain of the neck muscles, sprains, hypothermia lead to pain, which is characterized by moderate intensity and short duration. In this case, there is often a limitation of the mobility of the head and a spasm of the neck muscles, in which seals and pain are felt when pressed.

As a rule, pain in myofascial syndrome disappears on its own within a few days.

Cervical osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the spine, which occurs as a result of deformation and destruction of the intervertebral discs. Loss of elasticity, compression and destruction of the discs lead to overload of the intervertebral (facet) joints, arthrosis, pinched nerve roots and pain. With age, due to the drying of cartilage, the distance between the vertebrae decreases, which causes damage to the intervertebral joints and ligaments.

Facet joint dysfunction

Damage to the structure of the intervertebral, or facet, joints is one of the most common causes of pain in the neck.

The thinning of cartilage on the articular surfaces leads to the appearance of bone growths – osteophytes. They narrow the lumen of the intervertebral foramina and compress the nerve endings. As a rule, this causes dull pain (gradually increasing, of low intensity), especially in the morning after sleeping in an uncomfortable position (on a high pillow, in the prone position). When moving, it increases, and at rest it weakens. The pain may radiate to the back of the head, ear, temple, or shoulder.

Herniated and protruded intervertebral discs

Compression of the intervertebral discs that have lost their elasticity leads to their protrusion (protrusion) into the spinal canal and the subsequent formation of a hernia.

As a result, compression of the spinal cord occurs, leading to a violation of the sensitivity of the hands (numbness, burning, weakness) and pain. Shooting (irregular, one-sided) pain is aggravated by tilting, rotating, or throwing the head back, so that the person instinctively tilts the head forward and in the direction opposite to the location of the pain.

Cervical myelopathy

Prolonged compression of the hernia of the spinal cord leads to a violation of the spinal circulation.

Painful sensations occur not only in the neck, but also give between the shoulder blades, to the shoulders. They increase with movement and do not stop even after taking painkillers. Characteristic signs are the appearance of goosebumps, numbness of the limbs, problems with fine motor skills. Possible dizziness, memory impairment, changes in gait.

Whiplash

Whiplash injury of the cervical spine occurs in a person with a sharp bending of the neck forward or backward, followed by recoil in the opposite direction. This type of damage most often occurs in an accident. In this case, stretching and damage to the muscles, ligaments, intervertebral discs and vertebrae of the cervical region occur. In the most severe cases, dislocations and fractures of the cervical vertebrae occur.

The consequences of an injury can be pain in the cervical region and shoulders, migraines, spasms of the muscles of the neck, impaired mobility.

Associated symptoms include blurred vision, fatigue, and headaches.

Neck pain due to muscular tonic syndromes

Muscle tonic syndrome is a condition that is caused by prolonged spasm of several muscle groups in the head, neck, and chest. Compression of the neurovascular bundles leads to pulling, sometimes severe pain. In particular, the syndrome of the scalene muscle is a symptom complex in which the innervation and blood supply of the scalene muscles of the neck, going from the cervical vertebrae to the first and second ribs, are disturbed. This syndrome is characterized by pain and stiffness in the neck, more often in the morning, a certain position of the head (the head is tilted forward and slightly towards the tense muscle). The pain can be mild, aching, but sometimes sharp, aggravated at night, with a deep breath, when the head is tilted to the healthy side. Sometimes pain is transmitted to the shoulders, to the axillary and interscapular regions, to the anterior chest.

Neck pain from other causes

Constant and prolonged pain in the neck can be caused not only by diseases of the spine.

First of all, infectious diseases should be excluded, in particular, nonspecific or tuberculous spondylitis, epidural abscess. Persistent pain that worsens rather than improves at rest may be a sign of vertebral metastasis. These symptoms are accompanied by fever, general weakness, sweating. When pressing on the spinous processes, local pain occurs.

Damage to the spine is also possible with rheumatoid arthritis. As a rule, at an early stage of the disease, pain occurs in the neck, neck and head. The pain may radiate to the forehead and eye sockets, aggravated by bending and turning the head. Loss of sensation in the neck and arms.

Diagnostics and examinations

First of all, the doctor pays attention to the clinical symptoms: the localization and spread of pain, impaired sensitivity in the neck, shoulders, arms, decreased reflexes, general condition, the nature of the pain (increased by movement or at rest).

The doctor may prescribe:

• complete blood count

Blood test. Complete blood count (without leukocyte formula and ESR) (Complete Blood Count, CBC)

Synonyms: UAC. CBC without differential.

Brief description of the study Complete blood count

Blood consists of a liquid part (plasma) and cellular, shaped elements…

Up to 1 business day

Available with home visit

390 RUB

Add to cart

blood chemistry: minimal profile

Up to 1 business day

Available with home visit

3 990 rub

Add to cart

general urinalysis (Urine analysis with sediment microscopy)

Method of determination

Determination of physical and chemical parameters is carried out on an automatic analyzer using the “dry chemistry” method.

Hardware microscope…

Up to 1 business day

Available with home visit

410 RUB

Add to cart

C-reactive protein (CRP, CRP)

C-reactive protein is an acute phase protein, a sensitive indicator of tissue damage during inflammation, necrosis, trauma.
Synonyms: Blood test for CRP; C-jet …

Up to 1 business day

Available with home visit

665 RUB

Add to cart

To clarify the diagnosis, the doctor will need the results of computed and magnetic resonance imaging

Which doctors should I contact?

If you experience pain in the cervical region, first of all, you need to visit:

• therapist;
• neurologist;
• oncologist (at the conclusion of the therapist).

What should be done when pain occurs?

The Shants collar will help relieve pain and relieve tension in the cervical region.

It unloads and relaxes the muscles, reduces the pressure of the vertebrae on each other, helps restore normal blood circulation in the cervical spine.

Treatment

Conservative and surgical methods are used to treat patients with neck pain.

Conservative methods include drug and non-drug therapies.

Non-drug treatment, in particular, therapeutic exercises, ensures the restoration of the correct muscle balance, relaxation of overstrained muscles. Favorable influence is provided by methods of orthopedic treatment, manual and physiotherapy.

Only specialists can perform traction and massage.

Drug therapy is primarily aimed at eliminating pain. For example, blockades with local anesthetics reduce the intensity of pain. Most of the drugs used to treat neck pain are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as diclofenac. Also, in combination with anti-inflammatory drugs, the doctor may prescribe muscle relaxants – drugs whose action is aimed at relieving muscle spasms and reducing the tone of skeletal muscles.

With symptoms of compression of the nerve endings and spinal cord (sensory and motor disorders, paralysis), surgical treatment is indicated. The doctor assesses the benefits and risks of such operations individually. An alternative to surgical interventions on the spine in some cases are percutaneous high-frequency denervation of the facet joints and percutaneous laser vaporization of a herniated disc, which are minimally invasive neurosurgical procedures.

Sources:

1. Clinical guidelines “Rheumatoid arthritis”. Developed by: Association of Rheumatologists of Russia, LLC “Russian Rheumatological Association “Nadezhda””. – 2021.
2. Clinical guidelines “Neuromuscular scoliosis”. Developed by: Association of Traumatologists and Orthopedists of Russia, Russian Association of Spine Surgeons.