Pinched nerves are, unfortunately, not that uncommon. Studies have shown that about 85 out of every 100,000 people will suffer from pinched nerves each year.
The good news for those who suffer from pinched nerves is that they’re not always that painful. In some cases, they can simply be annoying to deal with before they eventually go away.
But the bad news is that some pinched nerves can also be very painful. You’ll want to get rid of them ASAP.
So, what is a pinched nerve? What are the signs of a pinched nerve? And what causes pinched nerves?
We’re going to answer all of these questions—and more!—today. Continue reading if you believe that you might be suffering from a pinched nerve right now.
What Is a Pinched Nerve?
A pinched nerve is a nerve that is having way too much pressure applied to it by the tissues that surround it. This pressure can wreak havoc on the nerve and stop it from functioning like it’s supposed to.
There are quite a few places throughout your body where you can experience a pinched nerve. For example, you can get a pinched nerve in your lower back if you herniate a disk in your spine. You can also get a pinched nerve in your wrist that could potentially lead to you dealing with a condition like carpal tunnel syndrome.
For this reason, you’ll need to be on the lookout for pitched nerves symptoms. They’ll let you know that you might have a pinched nerve that needs to be addressed.
What Are the Common Signs of a Pinched Nerve?
Those suffering from pinched nerves shouldn’t have too much trouble noticing that there is a problem. There are a handful of signs of a pinched nerve that you’re no doubt going to notice.
First and foremost, you’ll typically feel some pain and/or tingling in the area where you have a pinched nerve when one strikes. You might even find that something like your hand will go completely numb because of a pinched nerve in your wrist.
But the signs of a pinched nerve won’t always stop there. There are also some other pinched nerve symptoms that might rear their ugly heads. These symptoms will include:
- Pins and needles in the general area of a pinched nerve
- Weakness in the muscles surrounding a pinched nerve
- The feeling that an entire body part has “fallen asleep”
You might find that some or all of these pinched nerve symptoms will clear up in a matter of minutes in certain situations. But you might also find that they’ll persist for hours, days, or even weeks on end when a pinched nerve hangs around for an extended period of time.
What Causes Pinched Nerves?
Now that you know what a pinched nerve is and which symptoms might be present when you have a pinched nerve, let’s answer the question, “What causes pinched nerves?”
The truth is that there are many things that can cause a pinched nerve to set in. It’ll be important for you to identify what caused a pinched nerve to begin with in order to get it to go away.
Here are several causes of pinched nerves:
- Injuries
- Repetitive motions
- Arthritis
- Playing sports
- Obesity
You should attempt to get to the bottom of what is causing a pinched nerve in your body so that you can find the best possible pinched nerve treatment.
What Is the Best Pinched Nerve Treatment?
If you ever have a pinched nerve, there is a chance that it could clear up on its own. Many pinched nerves will respond positively to rest on the part of the people who are suffering from them.
If you have a pinched nerve in your wrist from spending all day typing, taking a few days off could work wonders for it. It might go away without you needing to do any additional pinched nerve treatment.
But if you have a pinched nerve in your back, getting rid of it once and for all might not be quite that easy. You might have to give radiculopathy treatment a try or even go as far as to get pinched nerve surgery. You should try to test out all your other options before you go the surgery route, though, since that will often involve a lengthy rehabilitation process.
But whatever you do, you shouldn’t let a pinched nerve linger if you sense that it’s not going away. That could turn what would have been a relatively minor issue into a chronic problem that will require constant pain management efforts.
What Can You Do to Avoid Pinched Nerves?
There are many instances in which pinched nerves will be unavoidable. A pinched nerve that takes place during a sporting event isn’t something that you can necessarily avoid.
But there are some things that you can do throughout the course of your life to reduce the chances of getting a pinched nerve. You can steer clear of making repetitive movements without taking frequent breaks. You can also watch your weight and make sure you’re getting more than enough exercise.
By doing these kinds of things, you’ll find that you won’t have to worry about pinched nerves turning into a regular problem for you.
You Don’t Have to Let Pinched Nerves Slow You Down
Pinched nerves are no laughing matter. Just ask anyone who has ever had to deal with one for more than a few days.
If you’re being forced to live with pinched nerves early and often, you should ask yourself, “What causes pinched nerves?” Then, you should set out to make changes to prevent pinched nerves from plaguing you.
You should also seek pinched nerve treatment as necessary. It’ll help you get back on your feet by doing away with any pain associated with pinched nerves.
Get more health-related tips and tricks that will keep you feeling your best at all times by reading through the other articles found on our blog.
