2. A pinched nerve is a medical condition that
develops when an external factor applies
pressure to one of the nerves that exist in the
body. Nerve compression can occur as a result
of something as benign as a minor tweak or
strain, or it can also indicate the presence of a
condition that will require medical attention. So
what is a pinched nerve, exactly?
3. The Physiology of the Nervous System
To fully understand what a pinched nerve is, it is first
necessary to have a basic understanding of the purpose
of the nerves in the body. In the most general sense, the
nerves are facilitators that allow the brain to send and
receive messages to the far reaches of the body virtually
instantaneously. These nerves act like an information
superhighway that transmit electrical signals back to the
brain to be processed and are responsible for all of our
voluntary and involuntary movements. In other words, it
is because of nerves that our lungs breathe and we digest
food and we recoil when our hand touches a hot surface,
as much as they are responsible for allowing us to make a
fist or put one foot in front of another.
4. The Cause of Symptoms
Where people run into problems is when
this transmittal of information is
interrupted as a result of the damage,
irritation, or constriction of one of the
nerves, which can result in different
types pain. For example, think about
what happens when you hit your funny
bone. This “bone” is actually an
unprotected segment of your ulnar
nerve, which runs from the spinal cord in
the neck to your finger tips. When you
hit this part of your elbow just right,
radiating pain is sent up and down the
nerve. A pinched nerve can have a
similar affect in that it may cause
symptoms to develop in parts of the
body that are seemingly unrelated to
origin of the problem, depending on the
location of the compression.
5. The Spinal Column
While a pinched nerve can ostensibly occur anywhere in the body, it is
particularly common in the spinal column, especially in the older
population. Over the years, the wear and tear that comes from
decades of regular movement in the back and neck can take its toll on
the spinal anatomy and lead to natural degeneration. Intervertebral
discs become worn, vertebral joints become arthritic, ligaments calcify,
and other changes naturally occur. It is because of this deterioration
that aches and pains in the neck and back are so commonly associated
with getting older. However, when one of these conditions results in
the compression of a spinal nerve, symptoms can arise. The frustrating
thing about a pinched nerve in this instance is that the pain typically
won’t abate on its own, as is usually the case when nerve compression
occurs as a result of a sports-related injury or strain. Instead,
treatment usually requires the assistance of a doctor.
6. Treatment Options
Behind, “what is a pinched nerve,” one of the most common questions
that doctors hear is, “how do I treat the nerve compression?” The
answer to this question is somewhat complicated because it depends
entirely on the unique patient and a number of variables, such as the
cause, extent, and location of the problem. That said, the good news
when it comes to pinched nerves is that in all but the most severe
cases, a regimen of conservative, noninvasive treatment is usually all
that is required to overcome the chronic pain. However, in the event
that a combination of anti-inflammatories, stretching exercises, and
hot/cold therapy fails to provide acceptable results after several
months of treatment, a number of different decompression
procedures may be recommended. To learn more, schedule a
consultation with your doctor or spine specialist today.
