Pinched Nerve – Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

There are two types of nerves in the body:   motor nerves that carry information from the brain to the body with commands for the muscles and heart and sensory nerves which deliver information from the body to the brain about pain, touch and other sensations.   

A pinched nerve will prevent the information being sent to or received at its ultimate destination.

Causes of a Pinched Nerve

A pinched nerve happens when there is direct pressure in the nerve and it is unable to properly conduct information.  Among the most common reasons compression occurs and a pinched nerve results are:

• Herniated disc
• Bone spurs
• Osteoarthritis
• Narrowing of the spinal canal where nerves are located ("spinal stenosis")
• Injury
• Bruising
• Repetitive motions
• Poor posture
• Pregnancy
• Obesity
• Hereditary propensity

Symptoms of a Pinched Nerve

Symptoms will depend on where the pinched nerve is situated.    In general, though, many of the following symptoms are usually present with a pinched nerve:

• Sharp pain
• Burning pain
• Numbness
• Decreased sensation
• Muscle weakness
• Twitching
• Tingling or pins and needles

Pain from a pinched nerve may travel some distance from where the pinched nerve is actually located.   Coughing or sneezing may make the pain worse.    Increased nocturnal pain may also be present.

Diagnosis of a Pinched Nerve

If you suffer from symptoms of a possible pinched nerve which do not decrease with a few days rest, you should visit your doctor.   Your doctor will first ask for a description of your symptoms and perform a physical examination testing your strength, sensation and muscle tone.      This often allows the doctor to identify where the pinched nerve is positioned.      If the doctor believes you have a pinched nerve, he or she may send you for further tests.

A nerve conduction study, where the nerve is stimulated by a mild electric shock, can confirm the presence of a pinched nerve.  An electromyography is a test where electrical discharges in muscles are measured through a thin needle electrode.   

This will indicate whether there is a pinched nerve leading to the muscle.     X-rays, a CT Scan or a MRI may be ordered if your doctor suspects you have a pinched nerve in your spine.

Treatment for a Pinched Nerve

Unless you are experiencing bowel or bladder control problems related to a pinched nerve, conservative treatment is the first line of approach for relief from the pinched nerve.     Your doctor may prescribe rest, anti-inflammatories or other medications for severe pain.    Additionally, a brace or splint may be recommended depending on where the pinched nerve is.

Chiropractic treatment, in co-operation with your family physician, may also alleviate pressure on the pinched nerve through a series of exercises and therapies.

A few therapies which may be used are electric stimulation, which blocks the pain receptors or loosens up muscles surrounding the pinched nerve, ultrasound, which involves the use of sound waves to stimulate tissue healing around the pinched nerve and ice and heat packs.

A chiropractor will teach you exercises and stretches tailored to the area of your pinched nerve.     As some exercises might actually increase your pinched nerve pain, it is best to follow only recommended exercises.

The exercises and stretches are designed to increase flexibility and reduce pressure from misalignment of your spine on the pinched nerve.    Flexibility can be achieved through breaking down scar tissue caused by a pinched nerve.

Each pinched nerve needs to be carefully assessed.    Most pinched nerves will resolve with the conservative treatment detailed in this article.   However, in some cases, the only option may be surgery if conservative treatment has failed to produce an improvement with the pinched nerve.     Your family physician and chiropractor will advise if they believe surgery to remove pressure from the pinched nerve is necessary.