4. Pinched nerve
If you experience pain, numbness, and needles in your shoulder, arm, and hand, you might have a pinched nerve. It occurs when too much pressure is applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues, such as bones, bulging disc, cartilage, muscles or tendons.
“The nerves come out of the spine in little channels. If the muscles around the spine pull too tight, as when we sleep awkwardly, the channel can get closed off, causing a pinch of the nerve,” says Fedich.
“It’s like someone stepping on a garden hose; water can’t flow freely. In the spine, that will lead to pain wherever the nerve goes.” Sometimes this common issue will go away on its own, but if it doesn’t, typical options include physical therapy, icing (and later, heating) the area, ibuprofen, and corticosteroid injections.
