Pinched nerve

Date Updated: 01/22/2022

Overview

A pinched nerve occurs when too much pressure is applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues, such as bones, cartilage, muscles or tendons. This pressure can cause pain, tingling, numbness or weakness.

A pinched nerve can occur in many areas throughout the body. For example, a herniated disk in the lower spine may put pressure on a nerve root. This may cause pain that radiates down the back of your leg. Likewise, a pinched nerve in your wrist can lead to pain and numbness in your hand and fingers (carpal tunnel syndrome).

With rest and other conservative treatments, most people recover from a pinched nerve within a few days or weeks. Sometimes, surgery is needed to relieve pain from a pinched nerve.

Symptoms

Pinched nerve signs and symptoms include:

Numbness or decreased sensation in the area supplied by the nerve
Sharp, aching or burning pain, which may radiate outward
Tingling, pins and needles sensations (paresthesia)
Muscle weakness in the affected area
Frequent feeling that a foot or hand has "fallen asleep"

The problems related to a pinched nerve may be worse when you're sleeping.

When to see a doctor

See your health care provider if the signs and symptoms of a pinched nerve last for several days and don't respond to self-care measures, such as rest and over-the-counter pain relievers.

Causes

A pinched nerve occurs when too much pressure (compression) is applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues.

In some cases, this tissue might be bone or cartilage, such as in the case of a herniated spinal disk that compresses a nerve root. In other cases, muscle or tendons may cause the condition.

In the case of carpal tunnel syndrome, a variety of tissues may be responsible for compression of the carpal tunnel's median nerve, including swollen tendon sheaths within the tunnel, enlarged bone that narrows the tunnel, or a thickened and degenerated ligament.

A number of conditions may cause tissue to compress a nerve or nerves, including:

Injury
Rheumatoid or wrist arthritis
Stress from repetitive work
Hobbies or sports activities
Obesity

If a nerve is pinched for only a short time, there's usually no permanent damage. Once the pressure is relieved, nerve function returns to normal. However, if the pressure continues, chronic pain and permanent nerve damage can occur.

Risk factors

The following factors may increase your risk of experiencing a pinched nerve:

Sex. Women are more likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome, possibly due to having smaller carpal tunnels.
Bone spurs. Trauma or a condition that causes bone thickening, such as osteoarthritis, can cause bone spurs. Bone spurs can stiffen the spine as well as narrow the space where your nerves travel, pinching nerves.
Rheumatoid arthritis. Inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis can compress nerves, especially in your joints.
Thyroid disease. People with thyroid disease are at higher risk of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Other risk factors include:

Diabetes. People with diabetes are at higher risk of nerve compression.
Overuse. Jobs or hobbies that require repetitive hand, wrist or shoulder movements, such as assembly line work, increase the likelihood of a pinched nerve.
Obesity. Excess weight can add pressure to nerves.
Pregnancy. Water and weight gain associated with pregnancy can swell nerve pathways, compressing your nerves.
Prolonged bed rest. Long periods of lying down can increase the risk of nerve compression.

Prevention

The following measures may help you prevent a pinched nerve:

Maintain good positioning — don't cross your legs or lie in any one position for a long time.
Incorporate strength and flexibility exercises into your regular exercise program.
Limit repetitive activities and take frequent breaks when engaging in these activities.
Maintain a healthy weight.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and conduct a physical examination.

If your doctor suspects a pinched nerve, you may undergo some tests. These tests may include:

Blood tests. You may need tests to measure your fasting blood glucose or thyroid levels.
Spinal tap (lumbar puncture). This test collects a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the area surrounding your spinal cord. The CSF may be sent to a lab and examined for signs of inflammation or infection.
X-rays. These images show how the bones are positioned and can indicate whether or not there is any narrowing or damage that could cause a pinched nerve.
Nerve conduction study. This test measures electrical nerve impulses and functioning in your muscles and nerves through electrodes placed on your skin. The study measures the electrical impulses in your nerve signals when a small current passes through the nerve. Test results tell your doctor whether you have a damaged nerve.
Electromyography (EMG). During an EMG, your doctor inserts a needle electrode through your skin into various muscles. The test evaluates the electrical activity of your muscles when they contract and when they're at rest. Test results tell your doctor if there is damage to the nerves leading to the muscles.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This test uses a powerful magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed views of your body in multiple planes. This test may be used if your doctor suspects you have nerve root compression.
High-resolution ultrasound. Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of structures within the body. It's helpful for diagnosing nerve compression syndromes, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Treatment

The most frequently recommended treatment for a pinched nerve is rest for the affected area. Your doctor will ask you to stop any activities that cause or aggravate the compression.

Depending on the location of the pinched nerve, you may need a splint, collar or brace to immobilize the area. If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, your doctor may recommend wearing a splint during the day as well as at night because wrists flex and extend frequently during sleep.

Physical therapy

A physical therapist can teach you exercises that strengthen and stretch the muscles in the affected area to relieve pressure on the nerve. The physical therapist may also recommend modifications to activities that aggravate the nerve.

Medications

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), can help relieve pain. Anticonvulsants, such as gabapentin (Neurontin) and tricyclic medications such as nortriptyline (Pamelor) and amitriptyline are often used to treat nerve-related pain.

Corticosteroids, given by mouth or by injection, may help minimize pain and inflammation.

Surgery

If the pinched nerve doesn't improve after several weeks to a few months with conservative treatments, your doctor may recommend surgery to take pressure off the nerve. The type of surgery varies depending on the location of the pinched nerve.

Surgery may entail removing bone spurs or a part of a herniated disk in the spine, for example, or severing the carpal ligament to allow more room for the nerve to pass through the wrist.

Preparing for an appointment

You're likely to first see your health care provider. Because there's often a lot to discuss and time may be limited, it's a good idea to prepare for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment and know what to expect from your doctor.

Prevention

What you can do

Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet or wear loosefitting clothes in the event that you have an imaging exam.
Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements that you're taking.
Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember all of the information provided to you during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
Write down questions to ask your doctor.

Preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time with your doctor. For a suspected pinched nerve, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?
What kinds of tests do I need?
Is my condition likely temporary or long lasting?
What treatment do you recommend?
What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions together?
Are there any activity restrictions that I need to follow?
Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What websites do you recommend visiting?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask other questions during your appointment.

Preparing for an appointment

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. They may include:

What are your symptoms? Do you feel pain, numbness, tingling or weakness?
Where, specifically, are you feeling these symptoms?
How long have you been experiencing these symptoms?
Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?
Is there an activity or a position that triggers your symptoms?
Is there an activity or a position that relieves your symptoms?
Do you have a job or hobby that requires you to make repetitive motions?