What Is Pinched Nerve

If you have a pinched nerve, your body may send you warning signals such as pain. Don't ignore these warning signals. Damage from a pinched nerve may be minor or severe. It may cause temporary or long-lasting problems. The earlier you get a diagnosis and treatment for nerve compression, the more quickly you'll find relief.



In some cases, you can't reverse the damage from a pinched nerve. But treatment usually relieves pain and other symptoms.





Causes


A pinched nerve occurs when too much pressure 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 your 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.




Treatment for Pinched Nerves


How long it takes for symptoms to end can vary from person to person. Treatment varies, depending on the severity and cause of the nerve compression. You may find that you benefit greatly from simply resting the injured area and by avoiding any activities that tend to worsen your symptoms. In many cases, that's all you need to do.



If symptoms persist or pain is severe, see your doctor. You may need one or more types of treatment to shrink swollen tissue around the nerve. In more severe cases, it may be necessary to remove material that's pressing on a nerve, such as:



Scar tissue

Disc material

Pieces of bone



Treatment may include:


NSAIDs. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen may reduce swelling.


Oral corticosteroids. These are used to reduce swelling and pain.


Narcotics. These are used for brief periods to reduce severe pain.


Steroid injections. These injections may reduce swelling and allow inflamed nerves to recover.


Physical therapy. This will help stretch and strengthen muscles.


Splint. A splint or soft collar limits motion and allows muscles to rest for brief periods.


Surgery. Surgery may be needed for more severe problems that don't respond to other types of treatment.


Work with your doctor to find the best approach for treating your symptoms.

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