PINCHED NERVE SYMPTOMS - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
This often results in pain radiating down your arm or leg. Remember, your nerves are direct extensions of your brain which controls the function of every tissue, organ or system in your body. For your body to function properly there can be no abnormal pressure or “pinching” on any nerve. Causes of Pinched Nerve Symptoms
The most common area of the body for nerves to get pinched is in the back where nerves come out of the spinal column in pairs. In your back, the nerves branch off the spinal cord, which carries all the Nerve Signals from the brain to the body and from the body back to the brain. The spinal cord is the big “Nerve Trunk” or Main-Line so to speak, which carries all the signals your body needs to run properly. Your spinal cord runs down from the brain through openings in all of the movable bones in the back (Spinal Vertebra). The Nerves that branch off the spinal cord are smaller than the spinal cord itself, kind of like secondary lines.These smaller branches connect to all your bodies organs and tissues. A variety of problems can cause the openings that the spinal cord and spinal nerves pass through to become too small. This causes pressure on the spinal cord or spinal nerves. Some of the problems that can cause pressure on nerves(Pinched Nerve Symptoms) are: • Disc Herniations • Bone Spurs associated with Osteoarthritis • Degenerative Joint Disease • Muscle spasms • Nerve Entrapment
Nerves can also become pinched far away from the spine causing pinched nerve symptoms. This would be the case if the Median nerve developed pressure at the wrist, causing Carpal Tunnel. Pinched Nerve SymptomsThe most common areas of the body to have pinched nerve symptoms are the lower back and neck—causing “Sciatica” (Pain running down the leg), or “Carpal Tunnel”(Pain, numbness, tingling and weakness down the arm, hand and fingers). Symptoms of carpal tunnel are caused by pressure on the Median Nerve. Some people only have symptoms in the hand and fingers, but others with more pressure on the median nerve, can have pain in the forearm, biceps, shoulder, and neck. I suffered an injury to my median nerve two years ago which has left me with a permanent burning pain running down one entire side of my forearm into my thumb. I suffered the injury while pulling a heavy cart with my right arm extended. I felt a sharp-stabbing pain radiate down my arm from my bicep into my hand. It took four weeks of treatment before I could let my right arm straighten without pain shooting down my arm. A Neurologist confirmed my nerve injury with EMG and Nerve Conduction studies. He found the nerve I injured in my right arm is only working half as fast as my other arm. In my case the “Pinched Nerve Symptoms” weren’t caused by pressure or compression, but by a stretch injury to a nerve. How do you diagnose a Pinched Nerve?
The first thing a health care provider will do is complete a Patient History and Physical Exam. If he/she suspects a minor pinched nerve, treatment may be started. More definitive diagnostic tests are available if needed such as: • Blood work(to rule out things that can have similar symptoms) • X-ray • Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) • CAT Scan(CT) • Electromyography(EMG) • Nerve conduction studies
Treatment for Pinched Nerve SymptomsWhen I felt stabbing pain radiating down my arm, I suspected right away that I had suffered a nerve injury. I made an appointment with a very well known Chiropractic Physician who used a technique called Nerve Flossing to take pressure off nerves. After a month of these treatments three times a week I was able to let my arm hang down straight. I was very happy about that improvement—but I still had constant burning down my arm. We decided it was time to see a Neurologist. I had hoped that I wouldn’t need to see a neurologist because I had heard many times how much pain was associated with having an EMG. I was afraid of having needles stuck into me and electricity shooting down my arm! He didn’t do an EMG right away. He treated me with a topical pain gel, and when that didn’t work, prescription medication. These approaches were not very helpful for me. Eventually he did EMG and Nerve conduction studies on me. Thank God it turned out not to be that painful after all. What has been most helpful for me is: • Resting my arm as much as possible—too much movement of my arm makes the burning worse • Not doing activities similar to the one that caused the Pinched Nerve • Chiropractic adjustments and Nerve flossing treatments • Specific nerve stretching exercises • Moist heat on my arm Other treatments used to relieve Pinched Nerve Symptoms include: • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs), like Advil or Motrin • Prescription medication • Physical therapy • Surgery Thankfully, rest and the other therapies listed above are usually very effective at relieving the pain and other symptoms associated with a Pinched Nerve. Unfortunately, in some severe cases—like my own, the damage may be permanent. To Your Best Health, Dr. Cliff
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