Pinched Nerve

A pinched nerve occurs when a nerve or group of nerves is pinched by surrounding muscle or bone. Trauma, overuse, disease and pregnancy can cause a pinched nerve. This abnormal pinching can irritate and disrupt nerve function and, if left untreated, can result in complete loss of muscle function. A common example of a pinched nerve is carpal tunnel syndrome, which occurs when nerves in the wrist are pinched after surrounding muscles and tendons become swollen from overuse (for instance, from typing on a keyboard every day). A herniated disc in your back can also pinch a nearby nerve causing pain and associated disability.

Pinched nerves can occur anywhere a nerve travels. Common areas lie along the nerves running from the shoulders to the hands; throughout the spinal column; from the buttocks down either leg; along the side of the leg; and from the pelvis to the knee. The pinched nerve can produce symptoms distant from the actual point of nerve pressure. Symptoms may appear at the site of the pinched nerve or "downstream" from the affected site. For example, the only symptom you might experience from a pinched nerve in your back is numbness in your toes. A pinched nerve in your neck might produce a burning sensation that runs the length of your arm.

The extent of symptoms will not tell you the seriousness of your problem. You may experience a "pins and needles" sensation that eventually disappears, leading you to believe the condition has corrected itself. The sensation may vanish, however, because the nerve was pinched so severely it was fully compressed. This can result in a complete loss of muscle function. Consulting your doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment at the onset of symptoms can help you avoid more serious problems down the road.

What to Do

Talk to your doctor if you experience tingling, numbness or pain in one area or running along a nerve path, or if you experience a loss of muscle function.

Use Medicine Effectively

Try to decrease any muscle swelling with an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen.

Self-care Steps for Pinched Nerve

• Treat the area with ice.

• If symptoms occur from overuse, rest the area for a few days.

• If symptoms occur at the wrist, you can immobilize the area with a splint. Try purchasing a wrist splint at your drugstore, or you can purchase a bowler's splint at your local bowling alley. (A bowler's splint leaves an opening for your fingers.) A decrease in the repetitive activity that may be causing the pinched nerve can substantially improve your condition.