A nerve is a bundle of fibres that transmits impulses of sensations around the body. In simpler terms, nerves are responsible for us being able to feel things like pain, heat or cold. Nerves are found everywhere in the body, transmitting these impulses around the body, from the brain and spinal cord. They usually travel alongside arteries and nerves, and just like other body parts, they can get injured or damaged.
Sometimes, the nerves in the body become constricted, stretched, or compressed, which all lead to discomfort. A very common nerve injury is a “pinched nerve”. This usually presents as sudden sharp pain or numbness and could affect any part of the body.
A pinched nerve is quite common in the neck or lower back. Many people report feeling pins and needles or sharp pain. However, sometimes the discomfort arises from something else, so it is important to know what to watch for and when you should seek the help of a qualified physician.
Pinched Nerve Symptoms
Below are some of the main symptoms of a pinched nerve:
Numbness
Numbness is the main symptom of a pinched nerve for many people. For example, in cases of major injury such as a deep cut, the nerves in the area may be damaged and this may present as loss of sensation around the wound.
If you start to feel numbness in your body, then it is best to seek medical advice by scheduling a consultation with your primary care doctor or medical professional. It may not seem like a big deal, especially if it doesn’t interfere with your daily activities, but it is better to discuss it with your doctor who should be able to carry out a physical exam and decide if any further investigations are needed to rule out any serious medical problems.
Tingling (Pins and Needles)
This is a sensation many of us may be familiar with because we have likely experienced it after sitting in an uncomfortable position for a long time. It feels like when your foot or hand falls asleep and starts to wake up. The sensation is quite common with a pinched nerve. Usually, numbness and tingling follow a distinct pattern based on which nerve is pinched. Symptoms from pinched nerves tend to be constant and affect the same area. If the tingling moves or switches sides, then it is probably not caused by a pinched nerve. However, if the sensation stays in one part of the body then it is more probably from a nerve that has been pinched.
Radiating Pain
Pain is the most reported symptom of a pinched nerve. The discomfort radiates and moves from one joint to another body part. An example is a pain that runs from one buttock down to the knee or from the knee down to the calf. This commonly happens with a condition known as sciatica. Remember that a pinched nerve does not involve the bones or tendons even though it follows the same routes around the body. Instead, the discomfort is the result of the nerve’s response to compression.
If you have a herniated disc or a pulled muscle, then the pain is very localized and does not travel all around the body.
Weakness in any limb
Weakness that develops in the arm, foot, hand, or leg often arises because of long-term nerve pressure. Such weakness usually indicates a severely pinched nerve and you should seek immediate medical assistance. A very common example of this is foot drop that occurs as a result of damage to a nerve in the legs. It is characterized by inability or difficulty in raising the toes or raising the foot from the ankle (dorsiflexion). Foot drop may be temporary or permanent, and may sometimes be a sign of a more serious condition.
Some other symptoms of nerve damage/injury include:
- Sharp pain
- Burning sensation
- Aching
- Decreased sensation
- Muscle weakness
- Reduced range of motion
These symptoms may be caused by a number of other reasons and may even resolve on their own, but it is always better to discuss them with a healthcare professional.
