DC
[Doctor name], DC
DC · [Clinic][One or two sentences on this doctor’s background with pinched nerves and neck pain.]
More about Dr. [Name]Pinched Nerve in the Neck Treatment in Milwaukee, WI
Neck pain shooting into your arm, or tingling in your fingers? Let’s look for what’s behind it.
Trusted, personal care in neighborhood clinics throughout Greater Milwaukee.
Understanding a pinched nerve
What is a pinched nerve in the neck?
Nerves branch off your spinal cord and leave your neck through small openings between the bones. A pinched nerve happens when one of these nerve roots gets squeezed or irritated as it exits.5 Doctors call it cervical radiculopathy.
Because each nerve travels down into your arm, the trouble often shows up far from your neck. You may feel pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness in your shoulder, arm, or hand.1
Most pinched nerves aren’t dangerous, and most get better with time and nonsurgical care.1,5 General neck pain without arm symptoms is covered on our neck pain page.
- Arm
Pain that shoots down your arm
Often sharp or burning. It travels from your neck into your shoulder, arm, or hand.
- Hand
Tingling or pins and needles
In your arm, hand, or fingers. Which fingers can hint at which nerve.
- Hand
Numbness
Part of your arm or hand feels dull or asleep.
- Strength
Weakness
Trouble gripping, lifting, or holding things. Tell your doctor right away.
- Side
Symptoms on one side
A pinched nerve usually affects one arm, not both.
- Movement
Pain with certain neck movements
Turning or tilting your head, or looking up, can make arm pain worse.
- Neck
Neck and shoulder blade pain
An ache in your neck, upper back, or near your shoulder blade.
- Exam
Weaker reflexes
Your doctor may find a weaker reflex in your arm during the exam.
Shoulder pain that’s worse when you lift or reach may start in the shoulder itself. See our shoulder pain page. Headaches too? See headaches and migraines.
When to seek medical care first
Most pinched nerves aren’t an emergency. Some signs point to pressure on the spinal cord itself, called myelopathy. Left untreated, it can get worse.6 These signs need a hospital, not a chiropractic clinic.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have:
- Trouble walking, loss of balance, or a change in how you walk6
- Clumsy hands, like trouble buttoning a shirt or picking up small objects6
- Loss of bladder or bowel control6
- Sudden or worsening weakness in an arm or hand1
- Symptoms in both arms, especially after an injury4
- Severe neck pain after a car crash, diving accident, or fall8
See a medical provider promptly if you have:
Causes
What causes a pinched nerve in the neck?
Two causes account for most cases.1,5
- Wear over time. With age, discs lose height and water. The body forms bone spurs that can narrow the openings where nerves exit.
- A herniated disc. The soft center of a disc pushes through its outer ring and presses on a nerve. Lifting, bending, or twisting can set it off.
In the Minnesota study, 68% of cases were linked to disc wear, bone spurs, or both. Only about 15% started after an injury or hard physical effort.2
Neck pain after a crash? See our whiplash and car accident injuries pages. Pain running down your leg instead? That’s often sciatica.
What can raise your risk
Age
Herniated discs are more common up to age 50. Wear-related changes are more common in your 50s and 60s.1
Being male
Men had a higher rate than women in the Minnesota study: 107 versus 64 cases per 100,000 people a year.2
Repetitive work
Jobs or hobbies that repeat the same movements can raise the risk of a pinched nerve.7
Other health conditions
Rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease, diabetes, and obesity can all raise the risk.7
Long days at a desk or looking down at a screen can add strain to your neck. See our posture page for simple changes. Hurt at work? We accept workers’ compensation.
Where you feel it
Which nerve is pinched, and where you feel it
Each nerve in your neck is named for the bones it exits between. C5 sits higher, and C8 is lowest. Where you feel symptoms can hint at which nerve is involved.3
The C7 nerve is involved in more than half of cases, and C6 in about a quarter.1 Your exam checks strength, reflexes, and feeling to narrow it down.
| Nerve | Where you may feel pain, tingling, or numbness | What may feel weak |
|---|---|---|
| C5 | Neck, shoulder, and the outside of your upper arm | Lifting your arm out to the side, bending your elbow |
| C6 | Thumb side of your forearm, and your thumb | Bending your elbow, pulling your wrist back |
| C7 | Back of your forearm, and your middle finger | Straightening your elbow, bending your wrist |
| C8 | Inner forearm, and your ring and pinky fingers | Gripping and bending your fingers |
A general guide. Nerve paths vary from person to person, and pain can come from more than one place.3
Your care
How a chiropractor helps with a pinched nerve in the neck
Your chiropractor for a pinched nerve in the neck starts by listening. When did it start? Where do you feel it? What makes it better or worse?
Then your doctor looks for what’s behind it. The exam checks how your neck moves, plus the strength, reflexes, and feeling in your arms. X-rays are taken only if your exam calls for them.
If anything needs medical care first, your doctor will tell you and help you get it. Your doctor then explains what they found and talks through options. You decide what’s right for you.
Care is natural and drug-free, designed around your condition, your medical history, your daily life, and your goals.
What the research says
For neck and arm pain from a pinched nerve, care guidelines suggest supervised strengthening exercise rather than advice alone.9,10 Hands-on care is better studied for neck pain without nerve symptoms.10 Research on spinal adjustments for a pinched nerve is limited.3
When to see a medical doctor
Guidelines say nerve symptoms that still limit you after three months need a physician’s exam.9 Your doctor watches for this and will refer you if needed.
What your care may include
Good to know
If you don’t want an adjustment
Say so, and your doctor won’t adjust your neck. Gentle joint movement, muscle work, and exercise are other options. You choose your care.
Gentle option
Gentle joint movement
Slow, controlled movements help loosen stiff joints in your neck and upper back without a quick thrust.
Hands-on
Chiropractic adjustments
If your exam shows it’s a good fit, gentle, targeted adjustments may help a stiff neck move more freely.
Rehab
Supervised strengthening
Guided exercises build strength in your neck, shoulders, and upper back, step by step.
Every visit
Checking your progress
Your doctor rechecks strength, reflexes, and feeling. If weakness grows, they’ll help you get medical care.
Every day
Desk, phone, and sleep guidance
Tips for your screen, your car, and your pillow help ease strain on your neck between visits.
Select clinics
Physical therapy
Available at our Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, and West Allis North clinics.
Select clinics
Massage therapy
Available at our Hales Corners and Oconomowoc clinics.
Recovery
How long does a pinched nerve in the neck last?
The outlook is good for most people. More than 85% of cases clear up within 8 to 12 weeks.1,4 Some people feel better within days or weeks. Others take longer.5
In the Minnesota study, 90% of people had no symptoms or only mild ones at their last follow-up.2
Symptoms can come back for up to a third of people.1 That’s why care also looks at the habits and strength behind your neck. See a provider if weakness grows or pain isn’t easing.
Insurance and your first visit
Care that fits your coverage
We’re in-network with most insurance plans, including Medicare, and our team can check your benefits before you come in. No insurance? New patients can start with the $29 first visit.
New-patient special
visit
$29*
Firstvisit
With insurance
In-network with most insurance companies
- Most commercial plans
- Medicare
- Auto accident claims
- Workers’ compensation
Your first visit
What to expect at your first visit
Share your story
Your doctor asks when the pain started, what makes it better or worse, your daily activities, and your goals.
Get a thorough exam
Your doctor checks how your neck and shoulders move, where it’s tender, and the strength, reflexes, and sensation in your arms and hands. X-rays are taken if needed.
Talk through your options
Your doctor explains what they found and walks you through care options. You decide what's right for you.
Begin care at your next visit
Treatment begins at visit two. In acute cases, your doctor may decide same-day treatment is appropriate.
You'll see the same doctor as your care continues, so the person treating you knows your history and your progress.
Your care team
Meet Milwaukee chiropractors who care for pinched nerves
Our chiropractors care for neck and arm pain every day. These doctors bring backgrounds that fit patients with a pinched nerve.
DC
[Doctor name], DC
DC · [Clinic][One or two sentences on this doctor’s background with pinched nerves and neck pain.]
More about Dr. [Name]DC
[Doctor name], DC
DC · [Clinic][One or two sentences on this doctor’s background with pinched nerves and neck pain.]
More about Dr. [Name]
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions about a pinched nerve in the neck
Most people feel pain that shoots from the neck into the shoulder, arm, or hand. It’s often sharp or burning. You may also notice tingling, numbness, or weakness, usually on one side. Certain neck movements can make it worse.
More than 85% of cases clear up within 8 to 12 weeks. Some people feel better within days. Symptoms can come back for up to a third of people. If weakness grows or pain isn’t easing, see a provider.
A chiropractor can check which nerve may be involved and look for what’s behind it. Care guidelines suggest supervised strengthening exercise for nerve-related neck and arm pain. Research on adjustments for a pinched nerve is limited, so your doctor talks through gentle options with you.
A pinched nerve in the neck is one common cause. The nerve that’s squeezed in your neck carries feeling to part of your arm and hand. Numbness in the hand can also start at the wrist or elbow, as with carpal tunnel. An exam helps sort out where it starts.
Most cases come from wear over time or a herniated disc. As discs age, they lose height, and bone spurs can narrow the openings for nerves. A herniated disc can press directly on a nerve. Only a small share follow an injury.
Not quite. A herniated disc is one cause of a pinched nerve. The soft center of a disc pushes out and presses on a nerve root. Bone spurs and other wear can pinch a nerve too.
Go to the emergency room for trouble walking or keeping your balance, clumsy hands, or loss of bladder or bowel control. These can mean pressure on the spinal cord. Sudden or worsening arm weakness also needs care right away.
Often, yes, with guidance. Care guidelines suggest supervised strengthening exercise for nerve-related neck and arm pain. Avoid movements that send pain down your arm, and ask your doctor which exercises fit you.
Not always. Your doctor decides based on your history, your symptoms, and your exam. When needed, X-rays are taken right in the clinic. If your exam shows signs that need more testing, your doctor will help you get it.
Tell your doctor and they won’t adjust your neck. Gentle joint movement, muscle work, and guided exercise are other ways to care for a pinched nerve. Your doctor explains the options, and you decide what’s right for you.
Often, yes. Same-day appointments are available at many of our clinics, depending on the day and each clinic’s hours. Call your nearest clinic or request an appointment online to check today’s openings. Your first visit is for your consultation and exam, and treatment typically begins at your next visit.
Usually not. Your first visit is for listening, a full exam, and X-rays if needed. Treatment begins at visit two. In acute cases, your doctor may decide same-day treatment is appropriate.
No referral is needed. Some insurance plans may require one for full benefits. Our team checks your plan when you verify your insurance and lets you know before your visit.
Eligible new patients can request a first visit for $29, including a consultation, an exam, and X-rays if needed. The offer requires requesting an appointment online and a visit within five business days. Medicare and Medicaid patients aren’t eligible.
Chiropractic Company has 20+ neighborhood clinics across Greater Milwaukee, and every one offers chiropractic care for a pinched nerve in the neck. Find a location close to your home or work.
Milwaukee-area chiropractic clinics near you
Find pinched nerve care near you: 20+ locations
Every clinic offers chiropractic care for a pinched nerve in the neck, close to home or work.
Milwaukee
- Chiropractic Company of Milwaukee East2332 N Farwell Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53211(414) 223-4550 - Chiropractic Company of Milwaukee North10855 W Park Place #9
Milwaukee, WI 53224(414) 359-0300 - Chiropractic Company of Milwaukee Third Ward140 S 1st St #101
Milwaukee, WI 53204(414) 271-1717
North
- Chiropractic Company of Shorewood3510 N Oakland Ave #201
Shorewood, WI 53211(414) 962-0700 - Chiropractic Company of Glendale5306 N Port Washington Rd
Glendale, WI 53217(414) 332-0859 - Chiropractic Company of Mequon11129 N Wauwatosa Rd
Mequon, WI 53097(414) 354-5377 - Chiropractic Company of CedarburgW57N14280 Doerr Way #101
Cedarburg, WI 53012(262) 377-3240 - Chiropractic Company of Grafton1664 7th Ave
Grafton, WI 53024(262) 377-2400 - Chiropractic Company of GermantownW164N11269 Squire Dr
Germantown, WI 53022(262) 250-1948
West
- Chiropractic Company of Brookfield1905 N Calhoun Rd #115
Brookfield, WI 53005(262) 782-2273 - Chiropractic Company of Menomonee FallsPhysical therapyN96 W18743 County Line Rd
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051(262) 253-6779 - Chiropractic Company of WaukeshaPhysical therapy161 W Sunset Dr
Waukesha, WI 53189(262) 549-0606 - Chiropractic Company of OconomowocMassage1300 N Summit Ave #201
Oconomowoc, WI 53066(262) 244-5004 - Chiropractic Company of New Berlin12414 W National Ave
New Berlin, WI 53151(262) 785-1344
South and southwest
- Chiropractic Company of West Allis2255 S 108th St
West Allis, WI 53227(414) 327-6767 - Chiropractic Company of West Allis NorthPhysical therapy10025 W Greenfield Ave #100
West Allis, WI 53214(414) 258-9777 - Chiropractic Company of Greenfield4600 W Loomis Rd #110
Greenfield, WI 53220(414) 321-2273 - Chiropractic Company of Hales CornersMassage6278 S 108th St
Hales Corners, WI 53130(414) 327-6400 - Chiropractic Company of Franklin10068 W Loomis Rd
Franklin, WI 53132(414) 525-9895 - Chiropractic Company of MuskegoW189S7773 Racine Avenue
Muskego, WI 53150(262) 679-2060 - Chiropractic Company of Cudahy3552 E Barnard Ave
Cudahy, WI 53110(414) 482-1776
Start today
A pinched nerve in your neck shouldn't keep you from doing what you love.
Let a doctor close to home listen, look for what's behind your neck and arm pain, and talk through care that fits your life.
More life in every day.
Keep reading
Learn more about a pinched nerve in the neck
Related conditions
Related services
- Chiropractic care
- Physical therapy (Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, West Allis North)
- Massage therapy (Hales Corners, Oconomowoc)
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic. Cervical Radiculopathy (Pinched Nerve).
- Radhakrishnan K, Litchy WJ, O’Fallon WM, Kurland LT. Epidemiology of cervical radiculopathy: a population-based study from Rochester, Minnesota, 1976 through 1990. Brain. 1994;117(Pt 2):325–335.
- Eubanks JD. Cervical radiculopathy: nonoperative management of neck pain and radicular symptoms. American Family Physician. 2010;81(1):33–40.
- Margetis K, Magnus W, Mesfin FB. Cervical Radiculopathy. StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; updated Aug. 2025.
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Cervical Radiculopathy (Pinched Nerve). OrthoInfo.
- Cleveland Clinic. Myelopathy.
- Mayo Clinic. Pinched nerve: Symptoms and causes.
- Mayo Clinic. Neck pain: Symptoms and causes.
- Côté P, Wong JJ, Sutton D, et al. Management of neck pain and associated disorders: a clinical practice guideline from the Ontario Protocol for Traffic Injury Management (OPTIMa) Collaboration. European Spine Journal. 2016;25(7):2000–2022.
- Bussières AE, Stewart G, Al-Zoubi F, et al. The treatment of neck pain–associated disorders and whiplash-associated disorders: a clinical practice guideline. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2016;39(8):523–564.