What Causes a Pinched Nerve?

A nerve root usually becomes pinched when the space it passes through narrows or when nearby tissue presses on it. Common causes include:

• Herniated Disc: The soft center of a disc pushes out and presses on a nerve root
• Bone Spurs: Extra bone that can form with arthritis and crowd the nerve
• Spinal Stenosis: A narrowing of the spaces in the spine
• Degenerative Changes: Age-related changes in the discs and joints of the spine

Because these changes become more common over time, pinched nerves are more frequent in adults as they get older, though a sudden strain can cause one at any age.

Pinched Nerve Symptoms

The symptoms of a pinched nerve follow the path of the affected nerve and can include:

• Radiating Pain: Sharp, burning or aching pain that travels from the spine into a limb
• Numbness or Tingling: A pins-and-needles feeling in the arm or leg
• Weakness: Weakness in the muscles served by the nerve
• Pain With Movement: Pain that worsens with certain movements, or with coughing or sneezing

Lumbar Radiculopathy

When the pinched nerve is in the lower back, symptoms travel into the buttock, leg and sometimes the foot. This is a common location for a pinched nerve. When it involves the sciatic nerve, the radiating leg pain is commonly known as sciatica. Symptoms often worsen with sitting, standing for a long time or bending, and may ease with a change in position.

Cervical Radiculopathy (Pinched Nerve in the Neck)

When the pinched nerve is in the neck, symptoms travel into the shoulder, arm and hand, often with numbness or weakness. A pinched nerve in the neck is a common cause of neck and arm pain, and you can learn more on our cervical radiculopathy page.

How Long Does a Pinched Nerve Last?

Most people recover from a pinched nerve within a few days or weeks with rest and other self-care, and in some cases it settles on its own as the irritation eases. Recovery depends on the cause, how much pressure is on the nerve and how well the underlying problem responds to treatment. Sticking with a treatment plan, especially physical therapy, supports recovery. When symptoms are severe or last longer, a spine specialist can look at what is driving them and recommend the next step.

How a Pinched Nerve Is Diagnosed

A spine specialist can usually identify a pinched nerve from your symptoms and a physical examination that checks strength, reflexes and sensation to find which nerve is involved. Imaging is not always needed, but when the diagnosis is not clear, an MRI shows the soft tissues, including the discs and nerves, and pinpoints where the nerve is compressed. In some cases, a nerve conduction study or electromyography is used to measure how the nerves and muscles are working and to rule out nerve compression elsewhere, such as at the elbow or wrist.

Pinched Nerve Treatment

Most pinched nerves are treated without surgery, and patients with lumbar radicular pain often respond to conservative management. Treatment is aimed at easing the pressure on the nerve and calming the inflammation around it.

Nonsurgical Treatment

Conservative care is almost always the starting point:

• Rest and Gradual Return: A break from the activities that aggravate the nerve, followed by a gradual return to activity
• Physical Therapy: Exercises to improve strength, flexibility and posture and take pressure off the nerve
• Medication: Anti-inflammatory or other medication to manage pain
• Injection: A steroid injection near the affected nerve in some cases, to reduce inflammation

Surgical Treatment

Surgery is considered when symptoms are severe, when they do not improve with conservative care or when there is progressive weakness. The goal is to relieve the pressure on the nerve, for example, by removing a herniated disc fragment or bone spur, or widening the space the nerve passes through. Your Resurgens spine specialist will explain whether surgery is appropriate and what recovery would involve.

Please Note: Most pinched nerves are not dangerous, but see a spine specialist promptly if you have progressing weakness, numbness that keeps spreading or problems with balance, coordination or bladder or bowel control. These can be signs of pressure on the spinal cord rather than a single nerve root and need prompt evaluation.

Schedule an Appointment for a Pinched Nerve

If pain, numbness or tingling is traveling down an arm or leg, a spine specialist can find the cause and guide your treatment. Book an appointment online today with Resurgens Orthopaedics or call us at (404) 847-9999.