Pinched Nerve

What is a pinched nerve?

A pinched nerve happens when bones, muscles, cartilage, or other musculoskeletal structures in your body place pressure on a nerve, which causes symptoms like pain or numbness. In many cases, pinched nerves don’t require treatment and resolve themselves within a few days. 

If you’re dealing with a pinched nerve at home, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, rest, and gentle stretching might provide some degree of comfort. If the symptoms persist despite your efforts at-home care, the team at Frontier Spine & Orthopaedic Surgery can provide treatment for lasting relief. 

What causes pinched nerves?

Several conditions can cause pinched nerves in various regions of your body. Since your nerves meet at your spine to join your spinal cord, pinched nerves often occur near your spine and cause symptoms in other areas. Conditions that may result in nerve compression include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Obesity
• Overuse injuries
• Bone spurs
• Herniated discs

The team at Frontier Spine & Orthopaedic Surgery starts your evaluation with a physical exam. They might also use imaging tests like X-rays, or computed tomography (CT) scans to locate the structure placing pressure on your nerve. Using the test results, they create a treatment plan to address the underlying condition and treat your pinched nerve symptoms.

What are the symptoms of a pinched nerve?

Pinched nerves may cause a variety of symptoms and sensations indicative of a nerve complication, including:

• Numbness
• Pain
• Burning
• Tingling
• Pins and needles
• Muscle weakness

You might feel these sensations in the area of the nerve. For example, carpal tunnel syndrome is often due to a pinched nerve in your wrist but causes pain or numbness in your hand. If the pinched nerve is near your spine but leads to your leg, you might feel pain or numbness there instead of your back. 

What are my treatment options for a pinched nerve?

The team at Frontier Spine and Orthopaedic Surgery prioritizes nonoperative treatments for pinched nerves, but surgery is necessary in some cases. To avoid aggravating the nerve, they might first advise you to rest the area or immobilize it with a brace or splint. Your individualized treatment plan for a pinched nerve might involve:

Medications

Anti-inflammatory medications can relieve inflammation and the pressure it places on your pinched nerve. The team might recommend corticosteroid injections for the same purpose.  

Physical therapy

Physical therapy can help you strengthen the muscles near your pinched nerve, which might relieve the pressure.

Surgery

The team at Frontier Spine & Orthopaedic Surgery offers outpatient same-day surgery in many cases. They can perform surgery to treat bone spurs, herniated discs, and other common causes of severely pinched nerves. 

If you have a pinched nerve and can’t find relief with rest and home care alone, call Frontier Spine & Orthopaedic Surgery or book an appointment online today.