Pain from a pinched nerve can be serious if ignored. If you’re looking for pain relief from a pinched nerve, schedule an appointment with Dr. Lenny Roberts today.
Click here to contact us or call 215-487-2500.
What is a Pinched Nerve
It’s called a pinched nerve because that’s what it feels like. But there’s a lot more going on!
Like an open window, nerve openings along your spine must be clear and unobstructed. The 24 moving bones of your spine protect your spinal cord while permitting normal turning and bending. Pairs of nerve roots, one on each side, branch off your spinal cord at each segmental level to service the organs and tissues of your body. When these openings are unobstructed, your brain can’t properly control and regulate your body. When a spinal bone is malpositioned, it can encroach upon these important nerve openings. Nerve irritation can result.
When spinal bones lose their normal motion or position, it can cause one of two types of nerve disturbances:
- Compressed lesion – This is just a fancy name for a pinched nerve. What surprises many is that it’s actually quite rare. More common is a…
- Facilitative lesion – This is when the nerve root is stretched, twisted or chafed. Think: hard tissue rubbing on soft tissue.
What Causes a Pinched Nerve
A pinched nerve is caused when a nerve is somehow damaged or injured by direct pressure or compression and is unable to properly conduct its signal. There are many potential causes for a pinched nerve, depending on the location of the nerve.
A pinched nerve in the neck or lower back can be caused by a herniated disc, arthritis, bone spurs, or spinal stenosis.
Pinched Nerve Symptoms
The symptoms of a pinched nerve depend on what nerve is affected. Each nerve is responsible for sending information to or from specific parts of the body.
The most common symptoms of a pinched nerve are:
- pain
- numbness
- tingling (pins and needles)
- weakness of the muscles along the path of the nerve
A pinched nerve sensation may feel like, for example, the sensation when a part of your body has “fallen asleep.” A pinched nerve can cause symptoms at the site of damage, or any location further down the path from the affected nerve.
- A pinched nerve in the neck can cause neck pain or stiffness, along with symptoms down the arm.
- A pinched nerve in the lower back causes back pain and stiffness with symptoms down the leg. A doctor can often identify which nerve is pinched in the neck or lower back based on what portion of the patient’s arm or leg is affected.
If you need pinched nerve pain relief in Philadelphia, schedule an appointment with Dr. Lenny Roberts today.
Click here to contact us or call 215-487-2500.
