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Nerves are like electrical wires that send signals throughout the body. When these wires are pinched, they can cause pain and numbness. A spinal specialist can diagnose pinched nerves through X-rays and MRI imaging.
Table of Contents
Causes
Nerves send signals from your brain to all parts of the body. They travel through a channel shaped by the vertebrae of your spinal cord and through nerve branches to your limbs and trunk. When a nerve is pinched, the result can be pain, tingling, and weakness in specific body areas. A physiatrist can create a pinched nerve treatment near me program and provide state-of-the-art non-surgical therapies to relieve your symptoms. You may experience a pinched nerve in the neck (cervical radiculopathy), back and chest (thoracic radiculopathy), arms and hands (compressed ulnar nerve in the elbow or carpal tunnel syndrome), or lower leg and foot (compressed sciatic nerve, causing pain and weakness in your legs). Pinched nerves are a common issue that occurs as you age. Over time, spinal discs lose water content and flatten, which can cause bone growths known as bone spurs to compress nerves. Pinched nerves can also result from injuries due to accidents or repetitive movements. Rheumatoid arthritis is another cause that can lead to inflammation and pressure on nerves. Furthermore, aging causes wear and tear on the spine and its discs, resulting in pinched nerves.
Symptoms
Nerves extend from the brain down through your spine and into your body, sending essential messages that tell your muscles how to respond. If a nerve gets compressed, it will send signals that result in pain and sometimes numbness or tingling. The severity of the symptoms depends on the location and intensity of the compression. If your pinched nerve symptoms don’t subside after a few days, it’s time to see your doctor. Your healthcare provider may recommend an imaging study, such as an MRI, to determine if the compressed nerve affects your spinal cord. Ice applications and over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or acetaminophen can help relieve pain and swelling. Your doctor may also prescribe steroid injections into the area around the compressed nerve. Physical therapy exercises will help to strengthen your back and neck muscles, decreasing nerve pressure. Splints for your wrist and cervical collar may be recommended to support limited movement in the affected areas.
Diagnosis
The nerves in your body are responsible for sending messages between your brain, spinal cord, and other parts. They help you move your muscles and are responsible for sensations like pain, numbness, and tingling. However, when a nerve gets compressed or pinched, it can cause various symptoms in different parts of your body. If you suspect a pinched nerve, your doctor will check your symptoms and do a physical exam. They may also recommend imaging tests, like X-rays, to see if you have broken bones, arthritis, herniated discs, or spinal stenosis. Based on your condition, your doctor may give you medications to relieve pain, like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anticonvulsants, or tricyclic antidepressants. In some cases, corticosteroid injections may be recommended to help reduce pain and swelling caused by the pinched nerve.
Treatment
Nerve essential signals throughout the body, from the brain to your spinal cord. Our bodies interpret the signal as pain and other symptoms when pinched. X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may show narrowing of the spinal canal, herniated discs, and other spine-related conditions. These tests also help our doctors determine if the nerves are being compressed and whether there is any damage to the spinal cord or soft tissues like muscles. If conservative treatments don’t relieve your symptoms, our doctors will recommend physical therapy to stretch and strengthen the area around the pinched nerve. Over-the-counter NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen help reduce pain, and corticosteroid injections can lessen inflammation in the affected area. For severe cases, surgery, spinal cord stimulation, or radiofrequency ablation may be needed.
