A pinched nerve occurs when too much pressure is placed on a nerve by surrounding tissues, such as bone, cartilage, muscle, or tendons. This pressure disrupts the nerve’s ability to transmit signals. While compression can occur anywhere, it most commonly affects the nerve roots branching off the spinal cord in the neck or lower back. Symptoms vary depending on the specific nerve affected, but typically involve a combination of pain, altered sensation, and changes in muscle function.
The Primary Experience of Pain
The primary feeling of a pinched nerve is intense pain that originates at the site of compression and travels along the nerve’s path. This radiating pain is often described as shooting or electric, following a specific route down into an arm or leg. For instance, compression in the lower back can cause pain that travels to the foot, a condition known as sciatica.
The pain is frequently sharp and sudden, feeling like a jolt or an acute stab when the nerve is irritated. It may also manifest as a burning or hot sensation localized to the area of compression or extending into the limb. Certain movements, such as turning the head, bending the back, or even coughing or sneezing, can aggravate the pain by momentarily increasing the pressure on the nerve root.
Beyond the sharp, radiating sensations, many people experience a deep, constant, or dull aching. This aching sensation can be particularly noticeable when resting, often interrupting sleep or becoming more prominent upon waking.
Associated Sensory and Motor Changes
A pinched nerve frequently causes a range of disruptive sensory changes, collectively known as paresthesia. The most common is the feeling of “pins and needles,” which is a crawling, prickling, or buzzing sensation in the affected limb. This happens when pressure interferes with signal transmission without completely blocking it.
When compression is more severe, it can lead to numbness, or anesthesia, which is the loss of feeling in the area supplied by the nerve. This is similar to the feeling of a limb that has “fallen asleep.” A loss of sensation can affect the ability to feel light touch, temperature, or vibration in the fingers, hands, or feet.
Nerve compression can also impede motor function, resulting in muscle weakness in the area served by the affected nerve. People may find they have difficulty gripping objects, reduced strength in their arms or legs, or they may stumble or drop things unexpectedly.
Common Locations of Compression
Pinched nerves most frequently occur where nerve roots exit the spinal column, making the neck and lower back common sites of compression.
Spinal Compression
Compression in the cervical spine (neck) causes pain and symptoms that radiate into the shoulder, arm, and hand or fingers. Underlying causes often include a bulging or herniated disc, or bone spurs. In the lumbar spine (lower back), compression often causes sciatica, where symptoms travel through the buttocks and down the leg. This area is susceptible to compression from disc degeneration or a herniated disc.
Peripheral Compression
Peripheral nerves outside of the spine can also be compressed, such as the median nerve in the wrist, which causes carpal tunnel syndrome. Compression in peripheral areas like the wrist or elbow is frequently linked to repetitive motions or anatomical structures that create tight passages for the nerve. For example, carpal tunnel syndrome involves the median nerve being squeezed within the narrow tunnel, leading to symptoms localized to the hand and fingers, often worsening at night.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While many mild pinched nerves resolve naturally with rest, certain symptoms suggest serious nerve compromise requiring medical assessment. If pain is persistent and lasts for more than a week without improvement despite conservative measures, a doctor’s visit is warranted. Worsening pain or symptoms that intensify even with rest could indicate ongoing nerve damage.
Sudden or rapidly developing muscle weakness is a particularly concerning sign, suggesting that the motor fibers are significantly impaired. A sudden inability to lift an arm or leg, or a significant loss of grip strength, should be evaluated promptly. Loss of coordination or difficulty walking also requires attention.
The most serious warning signs require immediate, emergency medical attention to prevent permanent neurological deficits. These include the sudden loss of bowel or bladder control, or the onset of “saddle numbness” (numbness in the groin, inner thighs, and genital area). These symptoms can indicate a severe condition called Cauda Equina Syndrome. Any symptoms that severely impact daily function or significantly disrupt sleep quality should prompt a consultation.