Understanding Pinched Nerve Pain

A pinched nerve occurs when too much pressure is applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues — such as bones, cartilage, muscles or tendons. This pressure disrupts the nerve’s function, causing pain, tingling, numbness or weakness. For example, in the case of a herniated disc, the compression on the nerve is bone or cartilage that causes pain and/or numbness down the affected limb. In the case of carpal tunnel syndrome, a variety of tissues may be responsible for compression of the carpal tunnel’s median nerve. The carpal tunnel is a passageway in the wrist that the median nerve and tendons pass through. Swollen tendon sheaths within the tunnel, enlarged bone that narrows the tunnel, or a thickened and degenerated ligament may cause compression of the median nerve. This pressure causes inflammation of the nerve and disrupts the nerve’s function. If a nerve is pinched for only a short time, there’s typically no permanent damage. However, if the pressure continues, chronic pain and permanent nerve damage can occur.
The following factors may increase your risk of experiencing a pinched nerve:
• Poor Posture
• Gender. Women are three times more likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome, possibly due to having smaller carpal tunnels.
• Bone spurs. Bone spurs are thickened areas of bone that can compress nerves as they exit from the spinal cord.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Overuse. Jobs or hobbies that require repetitive hand, wrist, or shoulder movements can increase your risk of nerve compression. Typing and frequent computer work increases the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Obesity. Excess weight can add pressure to nerves.
• Pregnancy. Water and weight gain associated with pregnancy can swell nerve pathways, compressing your nerves.
As always, a thorough history and physical exam are necessary. However, some tests may be required:
• Nerve conduction study. Patch-style electrodes are placed on your skin to stimulate the nerve with a mild electrical impulse. Test results tell your doctor whether you have a damaged nerve.
• Electromyography. This test measures the electrical discharges produced in muscles. During the test, a thin needle electrode is placed into the muscle to record electrical activity. Test results tell your doctor if there’s damage to the nerves leading to the muscle.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). If a pinched nerve is suspected in the neck or back, an MRI is very useful to rule out a herniated disc or stenosis (severe arthritis of the neck or back).
There are a multitude of treatments that can help pinched nerve pain such as rest, hand splints, physical therapy, and medications such as drugs for nerve pain (i.e. Gabapentin or Pregabalin) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Sometimes steroid injections or even surgery may be necessary.
If you would like to learn how to care for this disease or any other neurological condition, please call at 609-463-8009 or 609-653-9595. My office is conveniently located at 4 Village Drive in Cape May Court House and 160 Shore Road in Somers Point. Please visit my website at www.stzorfas.com