Musculoskeletal Condition · Glastonbury, CT

Neck Nerve Entrapment

A stuck or squeezed nerve in the neck can cause pain, tingling or weakness. See how Dr. Tortland in Glastonbury, CT evaluates and treats it.

Written and clinically reviewed by

Paul D. Tortland, DO, FAOASM, CAQSM, RMSK

Dr. Paul Tortland, DO is a non-surgical orthopedic & sports medicine physician specializing in regenerative orthopedics and surgical alternative treatment. He is dual board-certified in Sports Medicine & Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) and Regenerative Medicine, Fellowship-trained in Sports Medicine. He became the first physician in the world to earn board certification in Regenerative Medicine in 2015. Diplomate, American Board of Regenerative Medicine (ABRM), 2015. Registered in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (RMSK).

Condition

What is neck nerve entrapment?

A stuck or squeezed nerve in the neck can cause pain, tingling, numbness or weakness, and Dr. Tortland treats three groups of neck nerves. Scar tissue or tight muscle can trap a nerve as it passes through your neck and shoulder. This is called nerve entrapment.

Cervical plexus: nerves from the upper neck that carry feeling to your neck, the base of your skull and the area behind your ear.
Brachial plexus: nerves that run from your neck through the muscles beside it into your shoulder, arm and hand.
Vagus nerve: a long nerve that runs down your neck beside a large artery.

A pinched nerve right at the spine, called cervical radiculopathy, has its own page.

Explore related conditions: Browse the Neck condition hub for related diagnoses and treatment options.

CARE OPTIONS

How is neck nerve entrapment treated?

Dr. Tortland’s potential treatment options: After identifying a specific peripheral nerve and confirming that entrapment—not a pinched spinal nerve—is the likely problem, Dr. Tortland may consider ultrasound-guided nerve hydrodissection. Treatment is individualized; results vary, and evidence differs by nerve and condition.

Physical therapy and traditional care: Care may include targeted physical or occupational therapy, posture and ergonomic changes, nerve-gliding exercises when appropriate, and temporary activity modification. Medication or other treatment depends on the cause and your medical history.

When other care may be needed: Progressive weakness, significant numbness, or symptoms arising from the cervical spine may require imaging or referral to a spine or nerve specialist rather than hydrodissection alone.

Common questions

Questions about neck nerve entrapment

What is neck nerve entrapment?

Nerve entrapment happens when scar tissue, tight muscle or other tissue squeezes or sticks to a nerve in your neck or shoulder. Depending on the nerve, it can cause pain, tingling, numbness or weakness in your neck, head, shoulder, arm or hand.

Which nerves in the neck can be entrapped?

Dr. Tortland treats the cervical plexus, which serves your neck and the base of your skull, the brachial plexus, which serves your shoulder, arm and hand, and the vagus nerve. A pinched nerve at the spine is called cervical radiculopathy and has its own page.

What is nerve hydrodissection?

Hydrodissection means using ultrasound to guide a small amount of fluid around a nerve. The goal is to free the nerve from the tissue holding it. Your neck is close to major blood vessels, so live ultrasound and an experienced doctor matter.

Does nerve hydrodissection work in the neck?

We do not know for sure yet. Most studies so far are small or look back at past patients, and there are no strong trials for neck nerves. It may help some people, but results vary. A careful exam always comes first.

Neck Nerve Entrapment

What is neck nerve entrapment?

How is neck nerve entrapment treated?

Questions about neck nerve entrapment

What is neck nerve entrapment?

Which nerves in the neck can be entrapped?

What is nerve hydrodissection?

Does nerve hydrodissection work in the neck?

Not sure which treatment fits your condition?