Nerves in the spine carry messages to muscles and skin throughout the body. When the nerves are pinched in the neck or back, they can cause various uncomfortable and painful symptoms. A pinched nerve may be limited to one location, but still be felt in different parts of the body including arms, legs and shoulders.
Conditions that cause pinched nerves
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal cord narrows, compressing the nerves within it. The condition is most often a result of the natural aging process, which can include a certain degree of spinal degradation. Spinal stenosis can result in neurogenic claudication, which is the presence of cramping or pain as a result of pinched nerves. Because spinal stenosis can occur virtually anywhere along the length of the spine, the location of these symptoms can vary as different areas of the body receive nerve signals from different parts of the spine.
Lumbar Radiculopathy
The lumbar is the lower back region of the spine. Radiculopathy refers to a condition in which one or more nerves are affected and are not functioning properly. Nerves in the lumbar region carry electrical signals from the brain to the legs. Both leg and back pain can therefore occur as a result of this condition. Lumbar radiculopathy is referred to more generally as sciatica.
Cervical Radiculopathy
Cervical radiculopathy involves the pinching of nerves in the neck and the subsequent effect on arms, shoulders, and other parts of the upper body. When nerves in the neck are pinched, peripheral nerves branching off from the spine with signals from the brain to the arms can lose their ability to function. This can lead not only to pain and numbness, but also to a loss of muscle control.
Treatment for a Pinched Nerve
Are you wondering, What to do for a pinched nerve in the neck? Some people can recover from a pinched nerve with a few days of rest and NSAIDs. However, some people will need to seek physical therapy for pinched nerve treatment, or possibly steroid shots or surgery.
Physical Therapy for a Pinched Nerve
After your initial evaluation and diagnosis, your physical therapist will work to create a treatment plan focused on relieving the symptoms of your pinched nerve, as well as preventing the issue from reoccurring. This treatment can include:
A period of rest and icing
Manual Therapy or Active Release Technique to help with pain relief
Stretching
Range-of-motion exercises
Strengthening exercises
Posture education
Functional exercises to return to job or activity
In most cases, individuals with a pinched nerve are able to recover completely without any long lasting symptoms. Most patients respond well to conservative treatment including rest, activity modification, ice, physical therapy, and medications.
Surgical operations are typically only recommended for people who do not improve with the conservative treatment or if they have worsening muscle weakness.
The longer a patient has symptoms of a pinched nerve, and the worse the symptoms become, the less chance there is for a full recovery. Pain, numbness and tingling usually resolve completely with treatment. If a person develops weakness or wasting of the muscles, he or she should see a doctor as soon as possible to prevent any permanent nerve damage.
