Treatments for a Pinched Nerve in the Shoulder

If you have a pinched nerve in your shoulder or neck you know that it can be extremely painful. Besides pain, pinched nerves can make every day tasks like sleeping or working feel impossible. Not only are pinched nerves painful and difficult to deal with, they can also create long lasting symptoms if they’re not treated at the right time. To give you some guidance I’m going to cover a variety of treatments for a pinched nerve in the shoulder.

This is Part 2 of 2 where I answer more of your questions about a pinched nerve in the shoulder. My goal with this series is to answer any and all questions you have about pinched nerves causing pain down your arm. In this part I’ll cover:

• What  doctors treat a pinched nerve in the shoulder or neck?
• What’s the best doctor for a pinched nerve in the shoulder or neck?
• Chiropractic for a pinched nerve in the shoulder
• When should I see a doctor for a pinched nerve in my shoulder?

If you haven’t read Part 1, make sure you take a look at it in the link below. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any other questions you may have. I’ll do my best to answer them, write another post, or make a helpful YouTube video!

• Three exercises for a pinched nerve in the shoulder (with video!)
• How to treat a pinched nerve in the shoulder at home.

What Doctors Treat a Pinched Nerve in the Shoulder or Neck?

If you have a pinched nerve causing pain into your arm then you have choices on what type of doctor to see. The treatment you get will largely depend on what type of doctor you see. Here are some of the doctors who can treat a pinched nerve, as well as the treatments they usually provide:

• Chiropractor: Chiropractors are, in my opinion, the best doctors to see first for most cases of pinched nerves in the neck or shoulder. Clinical research also supports chiropractic care for pinched nerves. Instead of medication, injections, or surgery, chiropractors use non-invasive treatments like manual therapy and rehabilitation. They address the cause of the pinched nerve in order to get you relief and prevent it from returning.
• Primary Care Medical Doctor: Many people with pinched nerves see their primary care providers first. Primary care medical doctors are sort of the gate-keepers of the medical world. They have knowledge on many conditions and injuries. Many times they may prescribe an oral steroid, NSAID, and/or muscle relaxer for symptomatic relief. They usually refer for chiropractic care or physical therapy for follow-up treatments.
• Orthopedic, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Pain Management, or Neurologist Medical Doctor: These providers may use the same medications for treatment as primary care providers. They can also offer an epidural steroid injection after they do an X-ray or MRI. Steroid injections are directed using ultrasound or fluoroscopy towards the area of discomfort. The goal with injections is to reduce the inflammation and give you temporary relief. Some of these providers also treat pinched nerves with surgery if other treatments are ineffective.
• Physical Therapist: PTs use some of the treatments chiropractors us to help you recover from a pinched nerve. Their primary treatment is therapeutic exercise.

What’s the Best Doctor for a Pinched Nerve in the Shoulder or Neck

Guidelines for treating pinched nerves suggest that you should try conservative care, like chiropractic care, first. Conservative care is non-invasive or less invasive care. It’s a great option because it has less risks and side effects. It’s also recommended because it’s effective and most people will get relief of pinched nerve symptoms with chiropractic care. In my experience, trying medication, injections, and surgery first instead of seeing a chiropractor or physical therapist can make the recovery take longer.

Chiropractors are trained when to refer to a specialist. This is reassuring because you can trust that if your chiropractor feels co-management is necessary they’ll make the referral. I practice within a hospital system, so making referrals is easy for me and my patients. In fact, there is a medical clinic connected to my office next door with a great primary care provider.

Chiropractic for a Pinched Nerve in the Shoulder

Chiropractors have A BUNCH of treatments to relieve pain from pinched nerves in the neck and shoulder. When you see a chiropractor they’ll typically use some form of manual therapy and rehabilitation for treatment. Here are some of the treatments a chiropractor may use in your treatment:

• Therapeutic exercises: You’ll get personalized rehab exercises and stretches to relieve pain and correct the cause of the pinched nerve. This includes stretches to improve flexibility in tight muscles and exercises for motor control and stability to improve movement.
• Spinal manipulation and mobilization: These are sometimes called chiropractic adjustments. Adjustments are skilled treatment that’s mostly used by chiropractors. This involves putting motion into joints that aren’t moving and are dysfunctional. Manipulation can both relieve pain and improve mobility. They can often give immediate improvement. Subsequently this can help reduce nerve root compression and inflammation. Manipulation is generally very safe and carries lower chances of side effects in comparison to medications, injections, and surgeries.
• Dry Needling and Acupuncture: These treatments involve the placement of small needles in order to relieve pain, reduce muscle tightness, and eliminate trigger points. I’ve found these treatments to be especially helpful in those who’re having pinched nerves.
• Soft Tissue Release: With pinched nerves it’s important to relieve muscle tension and trigger points that may be irritating the nerve. Soft tissue release techniques, similar to massage, are really helpful at freeing up the nerve.
• Electrical Stimulation: When pain from a pinched nerve is severe, electrical stimulation can temporarily relieve some of the pain and make it easier to perform rehab exercises.

Even if you’re already seeing a medical doctor, I’d encourage you to see a chiropractor too. Conventional medical treatments can help reduce the pain, but ultimately pinched nerves are difficult to get over without correcting the root cause. The treatments a chiropractor provides are aimed at fixing the cause of the pinched nerve.

When Should I See a Doctor for a Pinched Nerve in My Shoulder?

If you have a pinched nerve, the vast majority of you will probably end up seeing a doctor. Sometimes the neck, shoulder, and arm pain from a pinched nerve will resolve on it’s own. However, most people with symptoms will struggle to address them without treatment. I always suggest seeing a chiropractor early on to give yourself the best change at a quick recovery. Here are some symptoms of a pinched nerve to watch out for and motivate you to seek care:

• You’re noticing that arm pain is traveling further down your arm than it was at the beginning.
• Pain is becoming more intense and more frequent.
• You’re developing weakness in you shoulder arm or hand.
• Sleeping is difficult because of the pain.
• You have numbness or abnormal sensation in your arm.

I’ve found that a lot of patients will put off going to the doctor because they’re worried about the cost or what kind of treatment they will recommend. Symptoms will continue and then many people will go to the emergency room because symptoms get so bad that they can’t bear them. At this point it can be really hard to try conservative care because the pain makes moving the shoulder or arm really difficult without pain relievers.

Overall, the costs of care and results much better when you seek the right care sooner rather than later. If you’re looking to see a chiropractor in Dumfries, VA or the Woodbridge and Stafford area then I’d encourage you to schedule with me here.

Jason Williams DC is a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic with Physical Therapy Modality and Acupuncture privileges. He is a chiropractor in Dumfries, VA at Sentara Therapy Center. Dr. Williams’ clinical expertise is in the evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of neuro-musculoskeletal conditions. Specific focuses include spinal, extremity, and sports-related complaints. He brings a patient-first attitude to his treatments and is a proponent of evidence-based and integrative care. See more content and his contact info here. 

The opinions and views are mine personally, and do not necessarily reflect the views of others in the profession, my employer, or organizations that I belong to.