Neck

The Shooting Arm Pain Can Stop. We Find Out Why It Started.

You feel it the moment you turn your head. A sharp bolt of pain that fires from your neck into your shoulder and down your arm. Numbness in your fingers. Tightness that never lets up. You’ve tried stretching, pills, maybe even injections, and it keeps coming back.

We look beyond the painful spot.

Your neck, mid-back, shoulder, and posture are assessed together. Because a pinched nerve rarely has a single cause.

Advanced therapy targets the nerve, not just the muscle.

Focused shockwave, EMTT, and spinal adjustment work together to decompress and calm the irritated nerve root.

We build durability so it doesn’t come back.

Progressive strengthening and posture correction address the habits and weaknesses that caused the nerve irritation in the first place.

60-minute one-on-one assessment + treatment plan.

No pressure, no contracts.

Is This You?

If any of this sounds familiar, you're in the right place.

Sharp neck pain that shoots down your arm, sometimes into your fingers

Office worker or manual laborer dealing with years of neck strain and poor posture

Numbness or tingling in your hand that won’t go away, especially at night

Pain started after pregnancy, abdominal surgery, or a car accident and hasn’t resolved

You want a real plan that addresses the nerve compression, not just another round of stretches and painkillers

The Real Problem

Why Your Neck Still Hurts After “Trying Everything”

Explore 4 slides on Neck nerve irritation

Most people have several of these happening at once. That’s why we assess the whole chain, from your mid-back and shoulders to the vertebrae in your neck, not just the painful spot.

OUR APPROACH

The Unpain 3-Part Neck nerve irritation Relief Program

INITIAL VISIT

Whole-Body Root-Cause Assessment

Neck, mid-back, and shoulder mobility and nerve tension testing

Identify which pain drivers are at play: disc, arthritis, muscle tension, posture, or a combination

Written treatment plan with transparent pricing before you commit to anything

First 3 to 6 Weeks

Pain & Inflammation Modulation

Focused shockwave to break down scar tissue and tight bands compressing the nerve

EMTT to calm nerve-root inflammation and reduce hypersensitivity

Chiropractic spinal adjustment to decompress the foramen and relieve direct nerve pressure

Make sleeping, driving, and reaching tolerable, fast.

6+ Weeks and Beyond

Strength & Progressive Aftercare

Progressive neck and shoulder stabilizer strengthening with guided movement therapy

Neural glide exercises and postural retraining to keep the nerve moving freely

NESA neuromodulation sessions to reset nerve signaling and support long-term healing

What To Expect

What Results Can I Expect?

Every case is different, but research and our clinical experience consistently show:

Many patients notice improvement within the first 1 to 2 weeks. Research shows meaningful pain reduction can begin after just one or two treatment sessions, with results building over several weeks.

Patients typically regain the ability to sleep comfortably, drive, work at a computer, and lift without arm pain. Neck mobility and shoulder function tend to improve as nerve irritation settles.

Over 85% of cervical radiculopathy patients improve enough to avoid surgery. A structured conservative program can resolve symptoms for the majority of people.

Our promise: we will tell you honestly at the assessment if we don’t believe you’re a good candidate for this approach.

EVIDENCE

The Research Behind Our Approach

Spinal manipulation has been shown to produce significant immediate improvements in neck pain, disability, and range of motion in radiculopathy patients, confirmed by a randomized controlled trial.

Focused shockwave therapy has been shown to substantially reduce pain in cervical myofascial conditions, with patients reporting marked relief after two to three sessions in a randomized controlled trial.

EMTT (magnetotransduction therapy) significantly reduced pain and improved physical function compared to placebo in a double-blind randomized trial of chronic musculoskeletal conditions.

In most cases, cervical radiculopathy responds well to conservative treatment including physical therapy and does not require surgery, according to clinical guidelines.

Multi-modal conservative care combining manual therapy with exercise has been shown to improve radiculopathy symptoms, supported by a systematic review of the available evidence.

Outcomes are group averages from clinical trials; individual results vary.

See full references
  1. [1] Hollander K, Burgkart R, von Eisenhart-Rothe R, Vester J, Gerdesmeyer L. Extracorporeal magnetotransduction therapy (EMTT) for management of musculoskeletal disorders: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2025. DOI: 10.1177/10538127251400083.
  2. [2] Young IA, Pozzi F, Dunning J, Linkonis R, Michener L. Immediate and short-term effects of thoracic spine manipulation in patients with cervical radiculopathy: A randomized controlled trial. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2019;49(5):299–309. DOI: 10.2519/jospt.2019.8150.
  3. [3] Kamel FAH, Basha M, Alsharidah A, et al. Efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave therapy on cervical myofascial pain following neck dissection surgery: A randomized controlled trial. Ann Rehabil Med. 2020;44(5):393–401. DOI: 10.5535/arm.20055.
  4. [4] Dettori SE, Junesky DW, Tsirikos AI, et al. Conservative management of cervical radiculopathy: A systematic review. Clin J Pain. 2023. DOI: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000001092.
  5. [5] Real Relief Without Injections: NESA® Neuromodulation Now at Edmonton’s Unpain Clinic. Unpain Clinic. https://unpainclinic.com/nesa-neuromodulation-unpain-clinic-edmonton/
  6. [6] Cervical Radiculopathy (Pinched Nerve) — OrthoInfo — AAOS. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/cervical-radiculopathy-pinched-nerve/
  7. [7] Immediate and Short-term Effects of Thoracic Spine Manipulation in Patients With Cervical Radiculopathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. https://spinalmanipulation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/young-immediate-effects-of-thoracic-manip-for-cervical-radicjospt-2019.pdf
  8. [8] Efficacy of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy on Cervical Myofascial Pain Following Neck Dissection Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial — PMC. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7655229/
  9. [9] Conservative Management of Cervical Radiculopathy: A Systematic Review — PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36599029/
  10. [10] Extracorporeal magnetotransduction therapy (EMTT) for management of musculoskeletal disorders — PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41313312/
  11. [11] NESA® Neuromodulation at Unpain Clinic Edmonton. https://unpainclinic.com/nesa-neuromodulation-unpain-clinic-edmonton/
  12. [12] Cervical Radiculopathy (Pinched Nerve in Neck): Symptoms & Treatment — Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22639-cervical-radiculopathy-pinched-nerve
  13. [13] Manual therapy, exercise, and traction for patients with cervical radiculopathy: a randomized clinical trial — PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19465371/
  14. [14] Efficacy of NESA Non-Invasive Neuromodulation in Patients with Post-Traumatic Cervicalgia. https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijrsi/articles/efficacy-of-nesa-non-invasive-neuromodulation-in-patients-with-post-traumatic-cervicalgia/

Neck nerve irritationFAQ

Here are answers to some of the most common questions about Neck nerve irritation.

6 results found

Does shockwave therapy help a pinched nerve in the neck?

Focused shockwave targets the tight muscle bands and scar tissue that compress or irritate the nerve. Research shows it can substantially reduce pain in cervical myofascial conditions within a few sessions. We use it as a first-line tool to release tissue tension around the nerve root. We map out the right approach during your initial assessment.

What causes cervical radiculopathy?

The most common causes are disc bulges and bone spurs from arthritis that narrow the space where the nerve exits the spine. Chronic muscle tension, repetitive strain, and even postural compensation after abdominal surgery can also contribute. Most people have more than one driver. We review all of this during your first visit.

How many sessions will I need?

It depends on severity, but most treatment plans run 6 to 12 weeks. Research uses courses of 2 to 8 sessions per modality. Clinically, many patients notice meaningful change within the first few visits and continue improving as sessions accumulate. We give you a clear plan with session estimates at your assessment.

Why does my pinched nerve keep coming back?

Recurrence usually happens when treatment only addresses the pain but not the underlying compression and habits. Returning to the same posture, repetitive motions, or neglecting stabilizer strength can re-irritate the nerve. Our program specifically addresses these triggers so relief lasts. We review your recurrence pattern in your first visit.

Is chiropractic adjustment safe for a pinched nerve in the neck?

When performed by a qualified provider after proper assessment, spinal manipulation is a well-studied intervention for radiculopathy. A randomized trial showed significant immediate improvements in neck pain and mobility after a single session. We always assess your imaging and history before deciding if adjustment is appropriate for your case.

What should I try if physiotherapy hasn’t helped my pinched nerve?

If standard physiotherapy alone hasn’t resolved your symptoms, the nerve root may need more direct intervention. Focused shockwave, EMTT, and spinal manipulation can target the compression and inflammation that exercises alone may not reach. We assess what’s been missed and build a plan around your specific situation.

YOUR NEXT STEP

Ready to See What’s Actually Driving Your Neck and Arm Pain?

Stop guessing, stop collecting random treatments, and get a plan that treats the system, not just the sore spot.

Initial Neck nerve irritation Assessment — Edmonton

60-minute one-on-one session. Here’s what’s included:

1

Full-body movement and strength assessment (neck, mid-back, shoulders)

2

Identify which pain drivers matter for your case

3

Review of history and imaging if available

4

Clear written plan with transparent pricing before you commit

No referral needed. No obligation to continue beyond the first visit.

No pressure, no contracts.

We will tell you honestly at the assessment if we don't believe you're a good candidate for this approach. If your condition needs something different, we'll refer you directly.

Related Resources

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cervical nerveneck painnerve irritationarm numbness