There is much more to pinched nerves than just pain in your back or neck. Pinched nerves hurt the health and functionality of your nervous system. If left unaddressed, pinched nerves might lead to irreversible nerve damage. Luckily for you, pinched nerves could be corrected. The board-certified neurosurgeons at APEX Spine and Neurosurgery provide a range of therapies guaranteed to offer lasting relief and address your inherent concerns. Occasionally, though, you may be unaware that your discomfort is generated by a Roswell pinched nerve. Therefore, you must understand what signs and symptoms to watch out for. Check out this post to learn more.
What Exactly Is A Pinched Nerve?
Radiculopathy, more commonly known as a pinched nerve, occurs whenever a nerve root within your spinal column is compressed. Typical conditions resulting in nerve compression include bone spurs, spinal stenosis, and herniated discs. While this concern is more common along the neck (cervical spine), it could also develop in the thoracic spine (mid-back) and lower back (lumbar spine).
What Symptoms Should You Watch Out For?
Compression of nerves causes numerous symptoms, including:
I. Numbness
Not always does nerve injury result in pain. Occasionally, nerve injury could induce numbness and/or diminished sensation. Besides, based on what nerve is squeezed in your spinal column, you may also have numbness in your foot or hand.
II. Shooting Pain
Compression of nerves causes discomfort. However, this discomfort manifests in various ways. You may have severe discomfort, aching, or even a burning feeling. Not only does pain arise at the place of your pinched nerve, but the discomfort could also be radiating. For instance, nerve compression could generate discomfort in the buttocks, back, legs, neck, and arms.
III. Muscle Weakness
Nerves could get squeezed in your shoulder, elbow, back, wrist, neck/shoulder. The pinched nerves often induce muscular weakness in the muscle the nerve feeds.
IV. Neck Stiffness
If a nerve in your cervical spine is compressed, you may also suffer neck stiffness. Even though inherent concerns (such as bone spurs) could induce pinched nerves, sleeping in an uncomfortable posture could also result in pinched nerves. If so, you may also have muscular soreness and stiffness.
V. Paresthesia
Paresthesia is something you have undoubtedly encountered at some point in life. This concern is characterized by the sensation of needles and pins that occurs whenever your foot or hand ‘falls asleep.’ Although most people attribute this concern to sitting cross-legged for long, it could sometimes be a warning sign of nerve compression.
What To Do If You Observe These Red Flags?
Occasionally, your doctor could address nerve compression with conservative techniques and rest. For instance, if sleeping in an unusual posture induces a pinched nerve on your neck, you may feel better after getting some rest, applying a warm compress, and adjusting your sleeping position.
Nonetheless, unmanaged pinched nerves might make you susceptible to irreversible nerve damage. Therefore, it is prudent to pursue medical assistance if you think you have nerve compression. Before developing a care plan, your neurosurgeon will identify the precise location and degree of your pinched nerve. At APEX Spine and Neurosurgery, the physicians provide a range of conservative and surgical therapies, including anti-inflammatory medicines, steroid injections, physical therapy, and minimally invasive surgery.
Do not disregard the indications of pinched nerves. Immediately you observe any warning signs highlighted above, talk to your neurosurgeon to get to the bottom of your concern. If a pinched nerve is to blame, your physician will tailor therapy to your unique circumstances to ensure the best possible outcomes. Call the Bethlehem or Roswell, GA office or book an appointment online today.
Johnson