Neck Pain · October 10, 2026
Arm pain from a pinched nerve: what the exam separates
Arm pain that people call a pinched nerve can start in the neck or in the shoulder, elbow, or wrist. The difference changes the treatment. All four TexStar clinics test it before anyone is adjusted. Results vary.
Two problems that get the same nickname
A nerve in the neck can send pain or numbness into the shoulder blade and down the arm. A tendon or joint in the shoulder can hurt in the same neighborhood and never involve the neck. Grip weakness, symptoms that change when you look up, or numbness in a specific finger pattern are details the doctor uses. “Pinched nerve” on the intake form is not the test.
Read the pinched nerve page for the cues, and the neck pain page if turning your head is the bigger problem.
What the visit measures
Strength in the arm, reflexes, sensation, and neck motion come before a treatment choice. If the pattern fits a neck nerve, care may include an adjustment, decompression, laser, or rehab. If the shoulder is the driver, the neck table is the wrong tool. Dr. Miller in Belterra and the other doctors will say which one the tests support.
Where to go from each side of town
- South Austin for Oak Hill, Circle C, and Sunset Valley desks
- Bee Cave for Lakeway and Spanish Oaks
- Buda for Kyle and Manchaca. Opens 9am Monday through Thursday.
- Dripping Springs and Belterra for the US-290 corridor
Book the $98 new-patient visit by mentioning the offer. It includes the consult, exam, one trial treatment, and a findings review. Restrictions may apply.
Get medical care the same day if
The arm is getting weaker by the hour, you cannot hold objects you held this morning, or neck pain arrived with trouble walking, fever, or a recent serious injury. Those are not wait-until-Monday problems.
For the problems that fit this office, care is non-surgical and drug-free. It may reduce pain and improve function. Results vary.
Common Questions
What does a pinched nerve in the neck feel like?
People often describe pain, numbness, or tingling in a strip down the arm, sometimes with a weak grip. The exam checks whether that strip matches a neck nerve.
Do you treat carpal tunnel?
The exam looks for it as a separate pattern from a neck nerve. If the findings point away from chiropractic care, the doctor says so.
Which office should I call?
The closest: Southwest Parkway, Bee Cave, Buda, or Belterra on US-290. Buda opens at 9am on weekdays. Results vary.