A pinched nerve in the neck is one of the most common problems that people have. It usually occurs when they don’t sleep in a proper position or if the neck is forced to move suddenly beyond its normal range of movement. This sort of a condition is not serious if it has occurred suddenly in the morning, or after some kind of neck injury. However, if the problem has set in slowly is accompanied by some other symptoms like a tingling of the extremities like the hand, something more serious is afoot.
A pinched nerve is medically called a radiculopathy. In this condition, a specific nerve is either pressed for so long that its oxygen supply is cut off or some kind of injury has caused an inflammation of the nerve. The resulting pain can be quite debilitating causing a state of quasi-paralysis – not because you are actually paralyzed but because it is that painful to move your neck. In most cases of a pinched nerve in the neck, your doctor will advise you to wear a neck brace and take some painkillers. This is really the best treatment but not something that is amenable to all. Most of the time, this injury can surprisingly happen when you are sleeping. By resting you head on a hard surface there is no support to the curvature of the spine. The weight of the head therefore presses down on the nerves of the neck much like a bridge is pressed at the middle from its own weight. To avoid this situation, always ensure that you have adequate cushioning material under your neck. Sleeping on an aircraft or a moving vehicle can especially cause this problem to be aggravated with sudden jerks causing a creak in the neck and the nerve to be damaged causing an inflammation.
Treating this condition will require a painkiller and there is no substitute for this. Take an over the counter medication like ibuprofen, with a dosage that is adequate for the whole day. Place a cold compress over the hurting nerve to reduce inflammation and take some rest. Rest involves staying in a stationery position that does not hurt you. This may take a few days to resolve and therefore it makes sense to not have any plans for the next few days. When you have to get up, think of your head as dead weight that your shoulders have to carry and roll off the bed rather than getting up, head first.