Pinched nerve

A pinched nerve refers to pressure on a nerve from nearby bones, cartilage, muscles or tendons. This pressure can result in pain, tingling, numbness or weakness.

Several conditions can cause pressure on a nerve. For example, the rubbery cushion between the bones of the spine can put pressure on a spinal nerve root, known as a herniated disk. A pinched nerve in the wrist can lead to pain and numbness in the hand and fingers, a condition called carpal tunnel syndrome. Tissue and bone also can put pressure on other nerves in the wrist, elbow and ankle.

With rest and other self-care treatments, most people recover from a pinched nerve within a few days or weeks. Sometimes surgery is needed to relieve pain from a pinched nerve.

Pinched nerve symptoms depend on which nerves are being affected. Pressure on a spinal nerve root is known as radiculopathy. Any spinal nerve root may be affected, from the lower neck to the lower back. Radiculopathy can happen when a disk between the spine bones puts pressure on a nerve, called a herniated disk, or from other changes in the spine. Symptoms affect one side of the body and may include:

• Pain that radiates down an arm or leg.
• Numbness or less feeling in the area supplied by the nerve.
• Tingling, or a pins and needles feeling.
• Weakness in your arm, hand, leg or foot. You might drop things or have trouble walking.
• Changes in bladder and bowel function.

A pinched nerve also can happen when surrounding tissue or bone compresses a peripheral nerve outside of the brain and spinal cord. This includes nerves in the wrists, elbow or ankle. Symptoms of these conditions may include:

• A numb or tingling feeling in the fingers, hand, ankle or bottom of your feet.
• Weakness in your hand or foot. You might have trouble holding objects or walking.
• A burning feeling in your foot or toes.

Symptoms related to a pinched nerve may be worse when you're sleeping.

Pinched nerve due to herniated disk

A herniated disk in the lower spine may "pinch" a nerve root. This can cause pain that radiates down the back of the leg, known as sciatica.

Pinched median nerve

A pinched median nerve in the wrist can lead to pain, numbness and weakness in the hand and fingers, known as carpal tunnel syndrome.

The cause of a pinched nerve is too much pressure from surrounding tissues, known as compression.

This tissue might be bone or cartilage, such as when a herniated spinal disk compresses a nerve root. This is called radiculopathy. When a nerve root in the lower back is compressed, it's known as lumbar radiculopathy. Sciatica is an older term for lumbar radiculopathy. Muscle or tendons also may compress a nerve.

In carpal tunnel syndrome, a variety of tissues may put pressure on the carpal tunnel's median nerve in the wrist. Swollen tendon sheaths within the tunnel, enlarged bone that narrows the tunnel, or a thickened and degenerated ligament can compress the nerve.

The ulnar nerve, which runs from your neck to your hand, can become compressed when it travels through tissues in the elbow. When this happens, it's called cubital tunnel syndrome. Less commonly, bone and cartilage in the wrist can put pressure on the nerve, called ulnar tunnel syndrome.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome can happen when the nerve in your leg, known as the tibial nerve, is compressed in the ankle.

Several conditions may cause tissue to compress a nerve or nerves, including:

• Injury.
• Rheumatoid or wrist arthritis.
• Stress from work that involves the same movements over and over.
• Hobbies or sports.
• Obesity.

If a nerve is pinched for only a short time, there's often no lasting damage. Once the pressure is relieved, nerve function returns. However, if the pressure continues, chronic pain and nerve damage can occur.

The following factors may increase your risk of experiencing a pinched nerve or a pinched nerve root:

• Sex assigned at birth. Women are more likely to have carpal tunnel syndrome, possibly due to having smaller carpal tunnels.
• Bone spurs. Trauma or a condition that causes bone thickening, such as osteoarthritis, can cause bone spurs. Bone spurs can stiffen the spine as well as narrow the space where your nerves travel, pinching nerves.
• Rheumatoid arthritis. Swelling caused by rheumatoid arthritis can compress nerves, especially in your joints.
• Thyroid disease. People with thyroid disease are at higher risk of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Other risk factors include:

• Diabetes. People with diabetes are at higher risk of nerve compression.
• Overuse. Jobs or hobbies that require doing the same hand, wrist or shoulder movements over and over increase the risk of a pinched nerve. This includes assembly line work.
• Obesity. Excess weight can add pressure to nerves.
• Pregnancy. Water and weight gain associated with pregnancy can swell nerve pathways, compressing your nerves.
• Prolonged bed rest. Long periods of lying down can increase the risk of nerve compression.

These measures may help you prevent a pinched nerve or pinched nerve root:

• Maintain good positioning. Don't cross your legs or lie in any one position for a long time.
• Incorporate strength and flexibility exercises into your regular exercise program.
• Limit activities that involve doing the same movement over and over. Take frequent breaks when engaging in these activities.
• Maintain a healthy weight to put less pressure on nerves.