Donald Corenman, MD, DC
Moderator
Post count: 8660

To determine if the pinched nerves in your neck are causing the arm and hand pain, a selective nerve root block (SNRB-see website) should be used in my opinion. Keep a pain diary (again-website) to determine how much (if any) relief you gain. Little or no temporary relief calls into question the pinched nerve cause of your pain.

Now, good relief does point to your neck nerves as the source of pain but does not absolutely prove that the nerves are the cause. (Chronic nerve injury pain CNIP-see website, will also be relieved by this injection but CNIP will not be helped by surgery). CNIP occurs in less than 5-7% of patients so don’t be too worried about this diagnosis.

C3-4 nerve compression can cause cervical angina (the C4 dermatome radiates over the front of the chest wall). Typically as in the case of any pinched cervical nerve root, the pain will increase with neck extension (bending the head backwards) and be relieved with neck flexion )forward head bend).

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.