A "pinched nerve" means something is putting pressure on a nerve. Any number of things may be the culprit, including repetitive motions in sports or at work, poor posture, excess weight, a ruptured disc, bone spurs or arthritis in the neck.

If you have a pinched nerve in the neck, you’re likely to feel symptoms in the neck, elbow, hands, wrists, or fingers. Symptoms may include:

• Pain
• Tingling or “pins and needles” feeling
• Numbness
• Weakness

So how can you relieve those symptoms? A number of strategies, some of which can be done at home, may help:  

• Rest. If an activity hurts, stop doing it for a while to give your body time to heal. You may also want to try cushions or neck rests to relieve pressure...

Treating chronic pain is complicated. With concern growing about overuse of opioids for pain and worries about side effects of some other medicines, many patients are looking for alternatives. One option many consider is medicated creams that are applied to the skin.

Unfortunately, a recent study showed topical creams did not appear to work any better than a placebo. There were a couple of caveats, though; one of the more promising creams was not tested, and the group being tested might not represent the general population.

A study in the Annals of Internal Medicine tested topical creams on a group of patients in...

Back pain often can be nipped in the bud if quickly treated. Your pain due to poor posture or a sedentary lifestyle may be eliminated solely through lifestyle changes or exercises. However, a “slipped disc” or nerve impingement may involve more physician-involved treatment (such as minimally-invasive surgery). According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), 25 percent of all US adults reported within the last three months to their physicians an episode of low back pain. Opioids are typically prescribed when all other pain-relief medications have failed, but long-term opioid reliance is not advisable for a...

Platelet rich plasma and stem cell therapy are continuously studied for their regenerative benefit in sports medicine and chronic pain treatment. Insurance companies do not currently reimburse these non-surgical treatments because the long-term effects of them need to be studied longer. However, many physicians offer these life-changing treatments to patients in need of restored function, pain relief, and care for knee, ankle, foot, and shoulder injuries for example.

Southwest Spine and Pain Center is proud to announce that we now offer platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection therapy. Patients are encouraged to talk to their Southwest Spine and Pain physician about this treatment option and how it could benefit their chronic condition. With four locations across Utah, Southwest...