Pinched Nerve in Shoulder: Causes, Symptoms, and Effective Treatments

If you're feeling numbness, tingling, or sharp pain in your shoulder and arm, it could be more than just muscle strain. Whether it’s a dull ache or sharp, shooting pain that radiates down your arm, a pinched nerve can seriously disrupt your daily life, causing major discomfort and limiting your range of motion.  But what exactly is a pinched nerve, how does it happen, and most importantly, how can you get relief?

What Is a Pinched Nerve in the Shoulder?

A pinched nerve happens when too much pressure is applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues, such as bones, muscles, tendons, or cartilage. When this pressure occurs in the shoulder, it can cause pain, weakness, and even numbness that radiates into the neck or down the arm.

Symptoms of a Pinched Nerve in the Shoulder

How do you know if you’re dealing with a pinched nerve in the shoulder? Here are some of the most common symptoms:

Pain:

Sharp or burning pain in the shoulder that may radiate into the neck or down the arm. 

Numbness or tingling:

Numbness or tingling that travels from your shoulder to your hand or fingers.

Weakness:

Weakness in the shoulder, arm, or hand, making it difficult to lift or carry objects. 

Reduced range of motion:

Reduced range of motion in the shoulder or stiffness that worsens with movement. 

These symptoms may come and go, or get worse when you’re sitting in one position for a long time - such as at a desk or while driving.

Causes of a Pinched Nerve in the Shoulder

Many factors can contribute to a pinched nerve in the shoulder, with the most common causes including:

Poor Posture:

Slouching, sitting for long periods, or even sleeping in an awkward position can place extra strain on your shoulder and neck, pinching the nerves over time.

Repetitive Movements:

If you’re constantly lifting, pulling, or rotating your arms at work or during exercise, the repetitive stress can cause inflammation and nerve compression.

Injury or Trauma:

A sudden injury from a fall, car accident, or sports can cause muscles or bones to shift out of place, leading to nerve compression.

Herniated Disc:

When the soft tissue between the spinal bones (discs) slips out of place, it can press on nearby nerves that travel through the shoulder.

Arthritis:

Wear and tear on your joints over time can lead to bone spurs or inflammation, which may pinch a nerve in the shoulder.

Effective Treatments for a Pinched Nerve

The good news is most pinched nerves can be treated effectively with non-surgical methods. Here’s what you can try:

Rest and Activity Modification:

Sometimes, the best thing you can do is rest, and avoid movements that aggravate the pain, giving your body time to heal.

Physical Therapy:

A physical therapist can guide you through exercises to improve strength, flexibility, and posture, reducing pressure on the nerve.

Chiropractic Care:

Chiropractic adjustments can help realign the spine and reduce popping or cracking noises by addressing misaligned vertebrae.


Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs):

Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or paracetamol can reduce pain and inflammation.

Ice and Heat Therapy:

Alternating between cold compresses and heat pads can soothe the area, reduce swelling, and promote healing.

Ergonomic Adjustments:

Improving your posture at work or home with ergonomic chairs or adjusted computer setups can prevent the issue from worsening.

Corticosteroid Injections:

If pain is severe and other treatments aren’t working, a corticosteroid injection can be used to reduce inflammation around the nerve.  It is a potent anti-inflammatory and is very effective at reducing the pain and associated swelling.  The steroid is combined with a local anaesthetic to ensure the procedure is relatively pain-free, and is carried out using ultrasound guidance to ensure the needle is placed in the correct place to get maximal pain relief. 

Prolozone Injections:

Prolozone injection, a form of ozone therapy, can help with a pinched nerve by reducing inflammation, promoting healing, and relieving pain. Ozone, a highly reactive form of oxygen, is injected into the affected area along with nutrients, stimulating oxygenation and improving blood flow to damaged tissues. This aids tissue repair and regeneration, which can help alleviate pressure on the pinched nerve. Additionally, prolozone has anti-inflammatory properties, reducing swelling and irritation around the nerve. The treatment is minimally invasive, offering a potential alternative to surgery or prolonged use of medications for nerve-related pain.

In rare cases, surgery may be necessary to relieve pressure on the nerve, especially if a herniated disc or bone spur is involved.

A pinched nerve in the shoulder can feel frustrating and limiting, but the good news is that it’s usually manageable with the right approach. Understanding the causes, recognising the symptoms, and exploring effective treatment options will help you get back to feeling like yourself again.

Private Injection Clinics offer both steroid injections and prolozone injections to treat many different MSK related pains – including a pinched nerve in the shoulder.  For more information please take a look at the website.

The Optimum Spine Centre and Private Injection Clinics are based on the coast in Leigh on Sea, and in Colchester, Essex  – perfect for patients in Essex, Kent, London, and surrounding areas. 

https://www.leighinjectionclinic.co.uk/prolozone-and-prolotherapy-injections-essex-london

https://www.leighinjectionclinic.co.uk/steroid-injections-essex

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/shoulder-impingement-syndrome/

https://www.healthline.com/health/pinched-nerve-shoulder-pain#diagnosis

https://www.hingehealth.com/resources/articles/pinched-nerve-in-shoulder-blade/

https://prohealthclinic.co.uk/blog/trapped-nerve-in-shoulder/