Overview
A pinched nerve is a broad term for a compressed peripheral nerve (the nerves outside of your brain and spinal cord). Tissues that surround your nerves — like bones, ligaments and muscles — can put pressure on them and “squeeze” them. This typically causes symptoms like numbness, tingling and pain.
“Pinched nerve” isn’t a technical medical diagnosis. Healthcare providers diagnose more specific causes and consequences of pinched nerves, like spinal stenosis and radiculopathy, for example. Providers may also call pinched nerves “nerve entrapment.”
Symptoms of a pinched nerve can be temporary or long-lasting (chronic), depending on the cause and severity. Most cases are treatable with rest, over-the-counter (OTC) medication and physical therapy.
What are the types of pinched nerves?
There are several types of and reasons for pinched nerves based on the affected nerve. Nerves that travel through small openings (called tunnels or canals) in your joints are more at risk of becoming pinched. Tissue swelling or damage puts pressure on the nerve, causing symptoms.
Spine-related pinched nerves
When surrounding tissues press on peripheral nerve roots (where peripheral nerves “exit” your spinal cord), it can cause pain, numbness and tingling in different areas of your body. This is called radiculopathy.
There are several types of radiculopathies based on where the pinched nerve is along your spine:
- Neck (cervical radiculopathy).
- Middle to upper back (thoracic radiculopathy).
- Low back (lumbar radiculopathy).
Other types of pinched nerves
Examples of pinched nerves elsewhere in your body include:
- Median nerve in your wrist: Carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Radial nerve in your elbow: Radial tunnel syndrome.
- Nerves in your lower neck and upper chest: Thoracic outlet syndrome.
- Ulnar nerve in your elbow or wrist: Ulnar nerve entrapment.
- Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve in your thigh: Meralgia paresthetica.
- Peroneal nerve on the top of your foot: Fibular tunnel syndrome.
- Pudendal nerve in your pelvic area: Pudendal neuralgia.
- Sciatic nerve in your lower back, hips, butt or leg: Sciatica.
- Tibial nerve in your heel or sole of your foot: Tarsal tunnel syndrome.
These are all examples of nerve compression syndromes.
The experience of your limb “falling asleep” is also an example of a pinched nerve. This is the briefest form of a pinched nerve. Having poor positioning while you’re sitting or lying down can pinch a single nerve, which gives you that tingling or numb feeling. It goes away shortly after you move out of the position that caused it.
How common is a pinched nerve?
Pinched nerves are common, especially mild cases. It’s common for people to have a single pinched nerve when their feet or hands “fall asleep.”
Severely pinched nerves — like ones that cause radiculopathy — are rarer.
Symptoms
When to see a doctor
Complications
- High blood pressure.
- Diabetes.
- Heart failure.
- Some types of heart valve disease.
Prevention
- Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
- Don't smoke or use tobacco.
- Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
- Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce and manage stress.
Living with atrial fibrillation?
Heart Rhythm Conditions Discussions
Comments are closed for this post.