Health & Pinched Nerves

Your health can temporarily or permanently be affected by pinched nerves. If you are experiencing numbness, pain, weakness or decreased sensation in any part of your body, which is not being relieved with bed rest or over-the-counter medication, you would be wise to seek out professional help. There are various causes for pinched nerves, and your doctor may recommend diagnostic tests and treatments. There are also ways to prevent suffering from pinched nerves.

Causes

• Sports like football can cause a pinched nerve.

  Nerves carry electrical signals from the brain throughout the body. Pinched nerves can be attributed to many different things including a herniated spinal disc, which puts pressure on nerves, injuries, poor posture, osteoarthritis, sports activities, repetitive jobs and carrying extra weight or obesity. Extra pressure on the nerves causes inflammation, which either causes pain or disrupts the normal sensations. In rare cases, a tumor could put pressure on a nerve.

Diagnostic Tests

• An MRI can test for nerve compression.

  If you have suffered from pain or numbness for some time, your physician may suggest that you have an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), which is a technique that uses radio waves and a magnetic field to create cross-sectional images of your body. This is usually used if there is a suspicion of nerve compression on your spine. Another test is called electromyography, which tests the electrical charges within your muscles. A thin needle electrode is placed into the muscle to check if the nerves are giving the proper stimulation. To check if you have a damaged nerve, the doctor may also place electrodes on your skin that will electrically stimulate different nerves to react. This is called a nerve conduction test.

Treatment

• Medication can relieve pain and swelling.

  If it is determined that you have a pinched nerve, you may be required to rest the part of your body that is affected. You will definitely want to stop the activity that may have aggravated the nerve in the first place. You also may be required to wear a brace or splint to hold part of your body still. Medications, including anti-inflammatories, may be prescribed. Injections of steroids can relieve the pain and swelling. You may require physical therapy to strengthen and stretch the affected parts of your body. In severe cases, surgery may be required to remove the pressure off the nerves.

Prevention

• Repetive tasks can pinch a nerve.

  To prevent a pinched nerve, you should try to maintain a healthy weight so you do not have added pressure on your nerves. You should also do strength and flexibility exercises regularly. Try to avoid repetitive sports and activities that put you at risk for injury to your muscles and nerves. If you have a job that requires repetitive tasks, take breaks regularly and keep good posture. Do not lift heavy objects.

Prognosis

• Pinched nerves are usually relieved with proper rest and medication. If left untreated for an extended period of time, a pinched nerve can cause permanent damage and affect your quality of life and overall health.