Nerve compression: causes, symptoms and treatment

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A pinched nerve is a condition in which a nerve is severely compressed by surrounding tissues, such as bone, cartilage, muscle, or tendon. This pressure can make you feel pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness. Nerve compression can occur anywhere in the body, but common sites include the neck, spine, wrist, or elbow. With rest and pain relievers, most people recover within a few days or weeks.

Read also: Numbness in the groin: possibly a pinched nerve

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symptoms

Because the nerve is compressed somewhere in the body, it is no longer able to properly transmit signals through the body. The following symptoms are a consequence of this:

Numbness or decreased sensation in the area supplied by the nerve
Sharp, aching, or burning pain that may spread
tingling (paresthesia)
Muscle weakness in the affected area
Often feeling that a foot or hand has “grown”

Symptoms of pinched nerves can be exacerbated during sleep.

Read also: What is carpal tunnel syndrome and what can you do about it?

Read also: 7 golden rules for lower back pain

the reasons

Nerve compression is caused by excessive pressure (pressure) on the nerve from surrounding tissues. Sometimes this tissue is bone or cartilage. In other cases, muscles or tendons are responsible for putting pressure on the nerve. In carpal tunnel syndrome, this entrapment occurs through various tissues.

There are a number of conditions in which tissue can put pressure on a nerve or nerves, including:

infection
Rheumatoid arthritis or wrist arthritis
Stress due to repetitive work
Hobbies or sports activities
obesity

If the nerve is compressed only briefly, there is usually no permanent damage. Once the pressure is released, the nerve returns to its normal function. However, if the pressure persists, there is a risk of chronic pain and permanent nerve damage.

Also Read: What Causes Insomnia or Arm Paralysis?

Treatment and prevention

You can prevent a pinched nerve by taking a few simple actions:

Pay attention to good posture: don’t cross your legs and don’t stay in the same position for too long.
Incorporate strength and flexibility exercises into your training program.
Limit repetitive activities and take frequent breaks when you have to perform repetitive motions.
Maintain a healthy weight.

See your doctor if symptoms persist for several days and do not improve with self-care measures, such as rest and pain relievers. Sometimes surgery is necessary to relieve pinched nerve pain.

Also Read: Pain from Overloading: Everything You Need to Know About RSI

Sources:

Last update: October 2022

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Nerve compression: causes, symptoms and treatment