Quick answer: Numbness, tingling, burning, pain or weakness in your arm and hand often comes from a nerve being compressed where it leaves the lower neck. The two most common causes are a disc herniation and spinal stenosis. They can feel similar, but the treatment, management and at-home care are quite different, so telling them apart is the first step. At Forward Spine Center in Golden Valley, that is what your exam is designed to do.
These symptoms often indicate compression on the nerve where it exits the spine. The compression can cause inflammation in the area, which can drive symptoms and become debilitating. At Forward Spine Center, we often see nerve compression and inflammation from disc-related issues that lead to arm symptoms. In Part 1, we covered how the nerves of the lower neck control your arm and hand.
Disc herniation
The discs in your spine are shock absorbers. They sit between the vertebrae, or bones of the spine, and over time a disc can start to break down and degenerate. Early signs of disc degeneration are disc bulging, where the disc starts to pouch out a little. In later stages, we see disc herniation, where the inside material of the disc starts to seep out. This can create contact and compression on the nerve, causing symptoms into your arm. More on our herniated and bulging disc page.
Spinal stenosis
Stenosis is the narrowing of the canal where the nerve exits the spine. We typically see stenosis in people 50 years or older.
Why the difference matters
It's essential for us to differentiate between disc herniation and spinal stenosis, because the treatment, the management and the at-home care are quite different for the two diagnoses. In your exam, I break spine pain into four structures that can cause symptoms: the joints, the discs, the nerve roots and the muscles. Testing each one tells us what is driving your arm symptoms, and what is not.
Depending on what we find, care may include chiropractic adjustments, mechanical traction to decompress the spine, Active Release Technique, exercises to strengthen weak deep neck muscles, and acupuncture. See our neck pain care page for details.
When to get medical care
Call 911 or get emergency care if arm symptoms follow a serious accident or fall, or come with sudden weakness, trouble walking, or loss of bladder or bowel control. Arm or hand weakness that keeps getting worse should be checked promptly. If your exam suggests you need imaging or a medical opinion, we will tell you.
Frequently asked questions
Can a pinched nerve in my neck cause arm numbness and tingling?
Yes. The nerves that leave the lower neck control the arm and hand, so compression there can cause numbness, tingling, burning, pain or weakness down the arm and into the hand.
What is the difference between a herniated disc and spinal stenosis?
A herniated disc is when material from inside a disc pushes out and contacts a nerve. Stenosis is a narrowing of the canal where the nerve exits the spine, usually seen after age 50. The treatment, management and home care are different for each.
Can a chiropractor help arm symptoms that come from the neck?
At Forward Spine Center in Golden Valley, an exam first finds whether the joints, discs, nerve roots or muscles are driving your symptoms. Care may include adjustments, mechanical traction, soft-tissue work, exercises and acupuncture. If you need imaging or a medical opinion, we will tell you.
Where is Forward Spine Center?
701 Decatur Ave N, Ste 102, Golden Valley, MN 55427, serving Golden Valley, Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Plymouth, New Hope, Robbinsdale and Crystal. Book online or call 763-332-2680.
Keep reading
- Is your neck causing your arm and hand symptoms? Part 1
- Herniated disc without surgery: chiropractor, PT or surgery?
- Herniated and bulging disc care in Golden Valley
- Neck pain care in Golden Valley
Dr. Timothy Klesk, DC, Forward Spine Center, Golden Valley, MN. Originally published April 3, 2023; updated . This article is educational and is not a substitute for an in-person evaluation.
