What is a Pinched Nerve?

The term pinched nerve is a colloquialism referring to nerve compression within the spine. It is a common cause of neck and back pain, often associated with degenerative spine conditions that arise as a natural part of the aging process. The components of the spinal anatomy – intervertebral discs, vertebrae, joints, ligaments, and muscles – are exposed to enormous wear and tear over the years. By middle age, lost water content within discs or deteriorating joints between the vertebrae begins to threaten spinal stability. When this happens, the spinal cord or adjacent nerve roots can become compressed, producing a variety of symptoms.

Symptoms

The symptoms associated with a pinched nerve include localized pain, radiating pain, tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness. The area of the body affected by symptoms depends on the location of the pinched nerve. In the cervical (neck) region, a pinched nerve can send shooting pain down the arms and into the fingers. In the thoracic (upper back) region, it can cause a loss of sensation in the torso area. In the lumbar (lower back) region, nerve compression can produce a burning sensation in the buttocks, the legs, the feet, or the toes. Pinched nerves are less common in the relatively stable thoracic region than in the flexible cervical and lumbar regions.

Treatment

More often than not, symptoms associated with a pinched nerve can be managed using pain medication, exercise, physical therapy, or more radical conservative treatments like corticosteroid injections or acupuncture. However, if chronic symptoms persist after weeks or months of conservative treatment, contact Laser Spine Institute to learn how tens of thousands of patients have found relief thanks to minimally invasive, outpatient procedures performed using revolutionary endoscopic technology.