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There are some people who might present with neck, shoulder, or arm pain, and they think it’s from a pinched nerve in the neck, but in reality, it could be signs of a heart attack. It also goes the other way around. There are some people who might think they have a heart attack and will present to the emergency room with chest pain, left shoulder / arm discomfort, and in reality, the heart is completely fine. And the source was actually a pinched nerve in the neck. These types of confusing pain patterns can also happen in the lower back and leg as well. This is why it’s important that a careful physical exam and clinical history by a physician is performed because this can help solve these problems. Also, many patients may report back, leg pain, neck or shoulder or arm pain, and they may be coming in for an evaluation for the first time. The pain may have just started a few days ago. It may seem very severe. They might think that they need immediate surgery. But the fact is the majority of these acute pain presentations will get better without surgery. Most cases of a pinched nerve do not need surgery, provided these patients have no weakness and the issue is just pain. They can normally be reassured that a trial of conservative treatment, medications, therapy, exercises, or in some cases, an injection could be reasonable options as a first line of treatment.
