Question
Hello Dr., i have a pinched nerve in my neck due to tightening of the trapezius muscle. i hold a lot of tension in the trapezius area which causes everything to tighten up. i have been doing neck excersises given to me by the chiropractor which involves, side to side neck turns, looking up and down neck motion., head to shoulder tilts and neck pushbacks when standing against the wall with knees bent. i have had no relieve and it seems to aggravate the symptoms. what do you suggest for releive? i work at a computer daily for my job and now im in some serious pain and im on pain killers/ibprofren. i do stretch during the day with no relief. i know have numbness in the first 3 fingers on my hand starting at the thumb. thanks for your time.  

Answer
Trudy:

Thanks for writing!

I would suggest a neck exercise which goes like this. Seated or standing, hold your face straight up and down, do not tilt the chin down or up. While maintaining this vertical face position, push you face-head straight forward, in other words, "stick your face out." Then, at the end of that movement, make a figure eight laying on its side with the point of your chin. Imagine you have a piece of paper sitting up and down in front of up. There is a pencil in the point of your chin. Use the pencil in the end of your chin to draw a figure eight laying on its side.

When done properly, this exercise will cause a crackly sound at the back of your head.

If this doesn't help, go to a different chiropractor. I would be happy to find a referral in your are, if you wish.

Dr. Rozeboom