Pinched Nerve

Pinched nerve is an injury that occurs when too much pressure is placed on a nerve. This pressure can cause pain, burning, and muscle weakness in places that the nerve supplies feeling to, such as an arm, hand, or leg, or the back or neck.

If a nerve is severely pinched or has been pinched for a long time, permanent nerve damage can occur.

What are the causes?

This condition may be caused by:

• A nerve passing through a narrow area between bones or other body structures.
• Arthritis that causes bones to press on a nerve.
• Loss of blood supply to a nerve.
• A nerve being stretched from an injury.
• A sudden injury with swelling.
• Long-term wear on the nerve.
• Age-related changes in the spine.

What are the signs or symptoms?

The most common symptoms of a pinched nerve are feeling a tingling sensation and numbness. Other symptoms include:

• Pain that spreads from one area of the body part to another.
• A burning feeling.
• Muscle weakness.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition may be diagnosed based on:

• A physical exam. During the exam, your health care provider will:
  • Check for numbness and muscle weakness.
  • Move affected body parts to test for pain.
• X-rays to check for bone damage.
• A MRI or CT scan to check for conditions that may be causing nerve damage.
• A muscle test (electromyogram, EMG) to evaluate how your muscles and nerves communicate.

How is this treated?

A pinched nerve is usually treated first by:

• Resting the affected body area.
• Using devices to help you move without pain (supportive or protective devices), such as a splint, brace, or neck collar.

Other treatments depend on your symptoms and the amount of nerve damage you have. Other treatments may include:

• Medicines, such as:
  • Injections of numbing medicine.
  • NSAIDs.
  • Pain medicines.
  • Steroid medicines. These may be given as a pill or as an injection.
• Physical therapy to relieve pain, maintain movement, and improve muscle strength.
• Surgery. This may be done if other treatments do not work.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Wear supportive or protective devices as told by your health care provider.
• Do physical therapy exercises as directed.
• Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.
• Rest as needed.
• If directed, put ice on the affected area:
  • Put ice in a plastic bag.
  • Place a towel between your skin and the bag.
  • Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.
• If directed, apply heat to the affected area. Use the heat source that your health care provider recommends, such as a moist heat pack or a heating pad.
  • Place a towel between your skin and the heat source.
  • Leave the heat on for 20–30 minutes.
  • Remove the heat if your skin turns bright red. This is especially important if you are unable to feel pain, heat, or cold. You may have a greater risk of getting burned.
• Do not drive or use heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your condition does not improve with treatment.
• Your pain, numbness, or weakness suddenly gets worse.

Get help right away if you:

• Have loss of bladder control (urinary incontinence) or you cannot urinate.
• Cannot control bowel movements (fecal incontinence).
• Have new weakness in your arms or legs.

Summary

• A pinched nerve is an injury that occurs when too much pressure is placed on a nerve.
• This pressure can cause pain, burning, and muscle weakness in places that the nerve supplies feeling to, such as an arm, hand, or leg, or the back or neck.
• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you while you are having symptoms.