What is a Pinched Nerve?

By: Stacie Cole, PT, DPT, Cert. DN

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What is a Pinched Nerve?

Have you ever felt a sharp, shooting pain down your arm or leg or noticed a strange numbness, tingling, or weakness? You might be experiencing a pinched nerve, a common condition often referred to medically as radiculopathy. This happens when a nerve root, especially one in your neck (cervical) or lower back (lumbar), gets irritated or compressed. Cervical radiculopathy, or a pinched nerve in the neck, affects about 83 out of every 100,000 people each year, while lumbar radiculopathy, or a pinched nerve in the lower back, is found in 25% of all low back pain cases.

What Causes a Nerve to Get "Pinched"?

  • Herniated Intervertebral Discs: These are the soft, gel-like cushions between your spinal bones. If one bulges or ruptures, it can press directly on a nerve. Herniated discs account for 22% of pinched nerve cases.
  • Bone Spurs: These are abnormal bony growths that can develop on your spine, narrowing the space where nerves exit.
  • Spinal Instability: If your spine isn’t properly aligned or stable, it can put pressure on nerve roots.
  • Trauma: Direct injuries to the spine or surrounding areas can lead to nerve compression.

Pinched Nerve Symptoms

  • Pain in the Extremities: This is often a hallmark symptom of a pinched nerve, with pain radiating down your arms or legs.
  • Motor Weakness: You might notice a significant decrease in strength in the affected limb.
  • Dermatomal Sensory Impairments: Experiencing numbness, tingling, or altered sensations like pins and needles.
  • Diminished Reflexes: Your body’s automatic responses, like the knee-jerk reflex, might be weaker than usual or even absent.

Treatment Options

Non-Surgical Interventions: These are often the first approach to help treat a pinched nerve, and they are highly successful! Physical therapy (PT) is a cornerstone of non-surgical treatment. A physical therapist can employ a range of techniques to help alleviate pressure, improve mobility, and reduce pain. These techniques may include mobilization, manipulation, traction, soft tissue mobilization, neurodynamics, and exercise.

Surgical Interventions: Non-surgical treatment may not be successful if you present with significant motor weakness, pronounced sensory impairments in a specific dermatomal area, and/or absent reflexes. In such cases, it’s essential to seek further medical evaluation, as surgical intervention may be warranted to prevent further damage and provide relief.

Sheltering Arms Institute has licensed physical therapists who can treat issues relating to pinched nerves and help prevent future damage. To schedule an evaluation, contact us online or call (804) 764-1000.

Resources:

Manual Therapy in Cervical and Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Systematic Review of the Literature

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