PINCHED NERVE IN THE NECK TREATMENT – SAN DIEGO, CA
Understanding Neck Pain, Arm Pain, Tingling, Numbness & Cervical Radiculopathy
Many people are told they have a "pinched nerve" in their neck.
Unfortunately, that diagnosis often creates more questions than answers.
Patients commonly ask:
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What exactly is a pinched nerve?
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Why does my arm hurt if the problem is in my neck?
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Why are my fingers tingling?
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Why does my hand go numb at night?
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Do I need surgery?
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Will it heal on its own?
At The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego, many patients seeking help for a pinched nerve in the neck experience symptoms such as:
✔ Neck Pain
✔ Shoulder Pain
✔ Shoulder Blade Pain
✔ Arm Pain
✔ Arm Numbness
✔ Tingling In The Fingers
✔ Burning Pain Down The Arm
✔ Hand Weakness
✔ Difficulty Sleeping
In many cases, these symptoms may be associated with a cervical disc injury, cervical spinal stenosis, or cervical radiculopathy.
The first step is determining what is actually causing the symptoms.
"SURGERY WAS MY NEXT OPTION"
**“I’ve been seeing Dr. Boelk for almost 4 years and it’s been one of the best medical decisions I’ve made in my life. I was diagnosed with severe cervical disc bulging with dizziness, neck pain, and arm/hand numbness and tingling. After trying different chiropractors, traction machines, and pain management doctors, I was told surgery was my next option.
Then I found Dr. Boelk, who explained how spinal decompression could help. My pain level went from a 7 down to a 3 after a few intensive sessions, and then to a 1–2 with maintenance care. During my last MRI, the images showed my cervical spine back in normal position.
I’m continuing maintenance and I’m thankful I found him. He is practical, professional, and one of my favorite doctors. I highly recommend giving him a chance.”**
— Justine Lai
SCHEDULE A NO-CHARGE CONSULTATION TO SEE IF YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE
A no-charge consultation with Dr. Cassidy Boelk DC may include:
✔ Review Of Symptoms
✔ MRI Review (If Available)
✔ Discussion Of Previous Treatment
✔ Discussion Of Potential Treatment Options
✔ Determination Of Whether You May Be A Candidate
Please Note:
⚠️ Not Every Patient Qualifies
⚠️ Not Every Patient Can Avoid Surgery
⚠️ Not Every Patient Is A Candidate
⚠️ Dr. Boelk Will Always Be Honest About Whether He Believes He Can Help
Because Dr. Boelk personally performs consultations and MRI reviews himself, consultation availability is limited.
WHAT IS A PINCHED NERVE IN THE NECK?
A pinched nerve is not actually a diagnosis by itself.
Instead, it describes a situation where a nerve becomes irritated, compressed, inflamed, or mechanically stressed.
Common causes may include:
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Cervical Disc Herniation
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Cervical Disc Bulge
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Cervical Disc Extrusion
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Cervical Foraminal Stenosis
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Cervical Spinal Stenosis
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Degenerative Changes
The important question is:
What is pinching the nerve?
That answer often determines which treatment options may be appropriate.
WHY DOES A NECK PROBLEM CAUSE ARM PAIN?
One of the biggest misconceptions patients have is assuming the problem exists where they feel the symptoms.
Many patients experience:
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Arm Pain
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Hand Tingling
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Finger Numbness
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Burning Sensations
and assume they have an arm injury.
However, the nerves supplying the arm begin in the neck.
When those nerves become irritated, symptoms may travel:
✔ Into The Shoulder
✔ Into The Shoulder Blade
✔ Down The Arm
✔ Into The Hand
✔ Into The Fingers
This process is commonly called:
Cervical Radiculopathy
WHY DO SOME PATIENTS FEEL BURNING PAIN?
Nerves can create symptoms very different from muscles.
When nerves become irritated, patients often describe:
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Burning
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Electrical Sensations
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Tingling
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Pins And Needles
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Numbness
These symptoms often travel along predictable nerve pathways.
This is one reason the location of symptoms may help identify which nerve is involved.
WHY DOES MY HAND GO NUMB AT NIGHT?
This is one of the most common complaints among cervical disc patients.
Some patients report:
"I wake up with my arm asleep."
"My fingers tingle while I'm sleeping."
"I have to shake my hand out at night."
For some individuals, sleeping posture may increase stress on already irritated nerves.
For others, underlying cervical disc injuries or stenosis may contribute to symptoms becoming more noticeable during sleep.
This is one reason sleeping position is often discussed during evaluation.
WHY CERVICAL DISC INJURIES OFTEN STRUGGLE TO HEAL
One of the biggest challenges with cervical discs is their limited blood supply.
Most tissues receive direct blood flow carrying:
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Oxygen
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Nutrients
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Growth Factors
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Healing Components
Discs are different.
Instead, they rely heavily on:
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Fluid Exchange
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Nutrient Diffusion
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Movement
Think of a sponge.
If a sponge remains compressed continuously, fluid movement becomes restricted.
Many clinicians believe a similar process may occur within injured spinal discs.
This may help explain why some neck injuries become chronic.
WHY MANY TREATMENTS HELP TEMPORARILY
Patients frequently report:
"The massage helped."
"The injection worked for a while."
"Physical therapy helped temporarily."
Many of these treatments may provide significant benefits.
However, some patients have multiple overlapping issues:
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Disc Injury
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Nerve Irritation
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Joint Dysfunction
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Postural Problems
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Weakness
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Stability Deficits
Addressing only one factor may not completely resolve the problem.
This is one reason symptoms often return after temporary improvement.
WHY NON-SURGICAL CERVICAL DECOMPRESSION WAS DEVELOPED
One goal of cervical decompression is to reduce pressure affecting injured discs and nearby nerves.
The goal is not to simply mask symptoms.
The goal is to improve the environment surrounding the injured area.
Many clinicians believe reducing pressure within the disc may help support a more favorable environment for recovery.
While no treatment can guarantee healing, this concept has become increasingly popular among patients looking for conservative options before surgery.
WHY PATIENTS TRUST DR. BOELK
One reason patients continue referring family members and friends is because Dr. Boelk is willing to tell patients when treatment is not appropriate.
**“I decided to see Dr. Boelk after a pretty gnarly motocoss neck injury. At the Hospital I was at, I felt I was getting pressured into a surgery which I refused. A friend of a friend referred him after Dr. Boelk successfully treated his broken back.
Dr. Boelk is a compassionate individual who truly cares about his patients. He looked at my MRI images, explained what he saw and potential routes for recovery. He could not treat me as I have to wait until the fracture in my neck heals, but the level of professionalism, compassion, caring and knowledge displayed by him was exceptional.
He also recommended to seek an additional opinion form another neurosurgeon. My experience was that he really cares and he's not someone who would take advantage of the situation someone's in (unlike some other doctors). I will definitely be back and already recommended him to others as well! Thank you Dr. Boelk!”**
— Jan H., San Marcos, CA
5 THINGS SOME PATIENTS MAY TRY AT HOME
⚠️ These suggestions are not intended to replace proper evaluation.
1. Avoid Looking Down At Devices For Long Periods
2. Take Frequent Posture Breaks
3. Maintain Good Desk Ergonomics
4. Stay Hydrated
5. Pay Attention To Sleeping Position
WHY PATIENTS SEEK OUT DR. CASSIDY BOELK DC
✔ Nearly 22 Years Of Clinical Experience
✔ Certified Spinal Decompression Doctor
✔ Certified Pain-Free Performance Specialist
✔ Founder, Spinal Decompression Training Academy
✔ Founder Of One Of California's Largest Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Practices
✔ Founding Member, American Spinal Decompression Society
✔ Member, International Disc Education Association
✔ California X-Ray Radiation Supervisor & Operator
✔ More Than 100,000 Spinal Decompression Treatments Performed
✔ Operates 7 DRX9000 Systems
✔ Trains Doctors Nationwide
SCHEDULE A NO-CHARGE CONSULTATION
The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center Of San Diego
5095 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92123
📞 619-298-0800
If you are suffering from neck pain, arm numbness, tingling in the fingers, burning arm pain, or have been told you have a pinched nerve in your neck, a no-charge consultation may help determine whether conservative treatment options may be appropriate.
Because Dr. Boelk personally performs consultations and MRI reviews himself, consultation availability is limited.