How a Nerve Can Get Pinched
The nervous system is the body's connection to the brain. It relays messages from the brain to the body and from the body to the brain. Nerve cells can be multiple strands of cells many feet long or they can be a single cell, depending on the location. The central nervous system is the brain itself and the nerves extending from it down the spinal cord are called peripheral nerves. If you are suffering from radiating pain, hot and cold sensations, or pin prick sensations you likely have a pinched nerve.
Physical Abnormalities
Nerves can get pinched several ways. Bones in the spine, for example, can slip out of alignment and press on a nerve, creating pain and numbness. Muscles, tendons and other body parts can also press or squeeze a nerve creating the same problem. If the patient is suffering from pain along with numbness it is possible that the cause is a pinched nerve.
Gradually Worsening Nerve Damage
Any abnormalities, such as a torn muscle that has healed in the wrong location, or bone spurs resulting from arthritis can also create pressure on a nerve and pinch it severely. Herniated discs in the spine often create nerve crowding or pinching. Pregnancy can cause temporary nerve pinching as the uterus presses on nerves. A medical examination and diagnosis will help determine the exact cause of the problem.
The Injury Over Time
Pinched nerves don't happen overnight. It takes time for the pressure to build to the point of pain. This is why pinched nerves are seldom diagnosed early on, but instead after the condition has progressed. A condition such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a good example of increasingly painful nerve damage. CTS is caused by repetitive motion which, along with joint disease and injury, is a common denominator in the cause of pinched nerves.
Treatment of a Pinched Nerve
Treatment improves the space available for the nerve by either shrinking swollen tissue around the nerve, allowing the nerve greater movement by removing the scar tissue that may have built up around it from chronic inflammation, or by removing the displaced bone that is pressing upon the nerve. Cortisone treatments to the injury can help control the pain of a pinched nerve, along with physical therapy or surgery. Resting the afflicted area is usually recommended by physicians. Sometimes, splints and wraps are also advised.
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