One of the most prevalent pinched nerve symptoms is pain in the area of the spine where a nerve or the spinal cord has been compressed by an anatomical abnormality. Because of this, it’s not uncommon for someone to mistake a muscle strain or a ligament sprain for a pinched nerve. For example, a strained neck muscle that develops after a long day sitting stooped over in front of a computer monitor might be colloquially referred to as a “pinched nerve.” This type of injury, however, typically causes short-term or “acute” pain, and it will usually subside in a few days or weeks. A pinched nerve, on the other hand, typically is a result of some sort of degenerative abnormality within the spinal anatomy. These abnormalities can be caused by traumatic injury, but are more often a result of the effects of the aging process on the components of the spine.

How Degenerative Spine Conditions Produce Pinched Nerve Symptoms

Most people middle-aged and older have begun to experience at least some spinal degeneration, even if they haven’t felt any symptoms. Over time, the vertebrae, spinal joints, intervertebral discs, ligaments, and other anatomical components of the spine become worn down under the strain of bearing the upper body’s weight and near-constant movement. This degeneration can take the form of osteoarthritis, bulging or herniated intervertebral discs, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis (vertebral slippage), and more. These conditions are not necessarily symptomatic, but as the components of the spine wear down, the spinal column can begin to lose its structural integrity. When this happens – say, a herniated disc develops in the lower back – the spinal cord and nearby nerve roots become vulnerable to compression.

Nerve compression can occur at any level of the spine. The site of the compression will determine the area or areas of the body affected by symptoms. For example, compression within the cervical (neck) region can lead to symptoms being felt in the neck, shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. In the lower back (lumbar region), compression can cause symptoms to be felt in the lower back, the buttocks, the legs, the feet, and the toes. Pinched nerve symptoms can include:

– Localized pain at the site of the nerve compression
– Pain that travels, or radiates, along the length of the affected nerve
– Tingling within the parts of the body innervated by the affected nerve
– Numbness in the parts of the body innervated by the affected nerve
– Weakness, cramping, and spasms in the muscle groups innervated by the compressed nerve

Treating Pinched Nerve Symptoms

No matter what region of the spine is affected – and, generally, regardless of the underlying cause – most patients are able to manage their nerve compression symptoms through conservative means. These can include non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), exercise, stretching, physical therapy, behavior modification, corticosteroid and nerve block injections in the spine, and more. Most patients will need to work closely with a doctor to determine the correct combination of conservative treatments. Generally, surgery only becomes an option in an emergency situation such as cauda equina syndrome, or if chronic pain and other symptoms persist after several weeks or months of conservative treatment. Patients whose lives have been severely disrupted by chronic nerve compression symptoms should conduct a thorough investigation into different surgical options before moving beyond conservative methods of treatment.

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of pinched nerves and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: Pinched nerve