I had a pinched nerve in my neck a few years ago, it was the worst pain I ever experienced. I swallowed handfuls of motrin and it did no good.

I finally went to physical therapy and found relief, my physical therapist gave me this bungee cord thing with a towel in a loop at the end to attach to a doorknow I would lay on the ground and my head would rest in the loop, this would pull my neck so the nerve would get relief...I know it sounds wierd but it worked.

He also gave me an excercize that worked well, sit up straight and picture a pole going down from your head down your neck, now picture that pull pulling your head up and pull your head up, at the same time pull both shoulders down.