Do I Have A Pinched Nerve? What You Need To Know

We have patients all the time (and we mean most days) come into our Te Puke clinic and ask if what is going on with their condition is a pinched nerve, so I thought I’d discuss and clarify this often mis-understood topic.

A pinched nerve happens when a bone or other tissue presses or interferes against a nerve. Doctors know that pinched nerves exert excess pressure to a nerve can cause pain, numbness, tingling, and other signs and symptoms. Some signs of a pinched nerve indicate a serious problem that could cause you to experience severe or long-term symptoms. In some cases, the symptoms of a pinched nerve can mimic other conditions.

In general, the signs or symptoms of a pinched nerve are:

• Nerve pain
• Altered sensation, such as feeling “pins and needles” (paresthesia) or numbness (anesthesia)
• Muscle weakness
• Diminished reflexes
• Loss of bladder or bowel function
• Pain upon certain ranges of motion or movement

Nerve pain can occur at the point where the nerve is pinched, but also further along the nerve from where the nerve is pinched. Think of a hose that is kinked, and you turn the water on. The water may still trickle out the end of the hose, but the blockage occurs much closer to the tap. Tingling occurs because pinching a nerve disrupts the nerve’s communication with the brain. Numbness may start as tingling then turn into widespread numbness.

These may be signs of a serious problem that needs immediate medical attention. A pinched nerve can deteriorate, which means that an untreated pinched nerve can cause worsening signs and symptoms or symptoms that persist for a long time.

A pinched nerve causes signs and symptoms, which pinched nerve doctors call “radiculopathy". Our patients commonly refer to this as either neck pain or back pain. A pinched nerve can happen anywhere in your body. Perhaps the best-known type of pinched nerve is the sciatic nerve; a pair of sciatic nerves extends from your spinal cord and each sciatic nerve runs down one leg. Carpal tunnel syndrome is an example of a pinched nerve in the wrist, which can cause pain, weakness, numbness and tingling in the hand and fingers.

The first sign of a pinched nerve is often localized pain in the neck, which means you feel pain at the point where the nerve becomes pinched. A pinched nerve may also cause neck pain in areas that are far away from the point of pressure. These symptoms can include pain, numbness, burning, tingling, muscle spasms, and muscle weakness of the neck.

Symptoms of a Pinched Nerve in the Neck

The specific symptoms of a pinched nerve largely depend on the exact location of the pinched nerve. You may experience a pinched nerve in your neck, which pinched nerve doctors call “cervical radiculopathy.” A pinched nerve in your neck will cause symptoms in your neck, shoulders, biceps, forearms, fingers, hands and different muscle groups in your upper body. Signs of a pinched nerve in your neck include arm pain, weakness, and poor reflexes.

Symptoms of a Pinched Nerve in the Middle and Lower Back

A pinched nerve in your middle back, an area of your body known as your thoracic spine, will cause symptoms in your upper or middle back. These symptoms can radiate, or spread, through your stomach or chest in a way that can be easily confused for heart problems. The back pain associated with this is a common condition our chiropractors see.

When you experience a pinched in your lumbar spine, which is your lower back, you might experience symptoms in your lower back, buttocks, hips, legs and in your feet. A pinched nerve in your lumbar spine may be the result of a problem with a disc, which is a rubbery cushion that prevents the bones of your spine from grinding against each other or against nerves as you move. Discs can sometimes bulge outwards to press against nerves to cause symptoms. Arthritis, bone spurs, or swelling from a ligament injury can also cause signs of a pinched nerve.

For quality chiropractic care in the Bay of Plenty, specifically the Mount/Papamoa/Tauranga/Te Puke areas, get in touch with Te Puke Chiropractic. We are conveniently located near Mount College with plenty of off and on street parking and we can provide a full objective evaluation of your health and offer you advice and treatment to alleviate your tension headache or any other chiropractic issue you may have. Our approach is unique in that not only do we get great results for our Bay of Plenty patients, we approach the spine in an objective way so that once problems improve, they don’t return. Make an appointment today or ask for more information about our treatments. We are more than happy to jump on a short phone call if you live in the Mount/Tauranga/Papamoa/Te Puke area to make sure we’re the right fit for your needs.

If you or someone you know is suffering from headaches, no matter how small or intense, feel free to call us at 07 574 3099 for a complimentary consultation and to set up a time to have your spine and nervous system checked.

Dr. David Guest is a Doctor of Chiropractic and the owner of Mount Maunganui and Te Puke Chiropractic in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. Dr. Guest focuses on an area of chiropractic called Structural Correction and is primarily concerned with Structural Shifts of the spine. You can reach Dr. Guest at david@mtchiro.co.nz or 07 574 3099. You can also follow David on Facebook at (www.facebook.com/mountchiro) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/chiropractor.mtmaunganui).