Neck pain that causes numbness in both arms or in one arm may be a symptom of cervical degenerative disc disease. You can test yourself: make the smooth movements of the head to the left and right. Then bring your head back to the straight position, and pull the right ear to the right shoulder, and then the left ear to the left shoulder. If you hear crackling sounds while doing these movements, or you feel pain or discomfort, then you probably have problems with the cervical spine.
Another sign of cervical degenerative disc disease is the numbness in the fingers. By the way, you can determine what cervical vertebrae have been compressed by which fingers grow numb. For example, if it is the thumb and index finger, which mainly experience numbness, tingling and burning, then the problems are at the level of sixth cervical vertebra (C6).
The neck pain causing numbness in arm is related to the scalene muscle spasms, which are involved in the forward and side head tilts. The causes of these spasms may lay in fatigue, after pulling heavy loads or holding the neck in an awkward position for a long period of time (while reading, watching TV, talking on the phone), as well as persistent coughing and the above mentioned cervical degenerative disc disease.
How to Get Rid Of Neck Pain and the Numbness in Arms and Hands?
The best way is to visit a chiropractor, who – using simple manipulations – will restore all anatomical structures, the normal blood circulation, and your pain and numbness will go away.
Another way to relieve the neck pain is to do some exercises at home. But keep in mind that if the pain remains for a long time and won’t go away, you need to visit a doctor to get properly diagnosed and receive an appropriate treatment.
Exercises for Neck Pain and Arm Numbness Relief
1. Relaxation
Place a pillow in a way that it supports head and neck to remove strain from the scalene muscle. Upper arm should not to be on the pillow. Such position will allow the scalene muscle to relax nicely, and the pain and numbness will fade away, especially if you move the hand to the head.
2. Stretching
Lay on your back, place the numb arm under the buttock. Your neck and the upper back are on a pillow, the head is thrown back. Turn you head towards the numb arm, then return, and turn the head to the other arm. When you turn the head towards the suffered arm, the anterior scalene muscle gets stretched; in the starting position (when your head is thrown back), the middle part of the scalene muscle is stretched, and when turning to the good hand – the rear part.
How to Prevent Neck Pain, Arm Numbness and Tingling
- Do not sit too long in one position.
- Avoid sudden changes in your body’s pose (especially sharp turns)
- Avoid drafts and cold.
- Try not to lift too much weight.
- Warm up thoroughly before workouts.
- Avoid working in awkward positions for a long time periods.
- Always have breaks when you feel tired.
- Do not read or watch TV while lying down.