Pinched Nerves
What are Pinched Nerves?
A pinched nerve is a simple way to refer to a nerve that has been compressed. Nerve’s are delicate and sensitive structures that can become compressed by surrounding tissues such as bone, cartilage, muscle, tendons, or space occupying lesions such as a tumor or growth. Compression can impede nerve function and cause pain or irritation and symptoms can present as numbness or tingling, or weakness. A nerve can experience compression anywhere along its pathway through the body. The most common areas are near the joints of the spine and in the pelvis.
How do Car Accidents Cause Pinched Nerves?
In an automobile accident, a violent impact can cause fractures and subject joints and soft tissue structures to extreme and sudden forces resulting in various injuries that can contribute to or cause nerve compression. Impact can also cause inflammation in joints or muscles and apply pressure on the nerve fiber along with secreting inflammatory compounds that can further exacerbate symptoms.
Symptoms
A pinched nerve can exhibit one or more of the following symptoms:
Numbness or decreased sensation anywhere along the distribution of the nerve.
Muscle weakness anywhere along the distribution of the nerve.
A sharp aching or burning pain.
A tingling sensation, like pins and needles
A frequent feeling that the affected area has “fallen asleep.”
Jolts of pain.
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms a Radius provider can perform a thorough examination to determine if your symptoms are the result of a pinched nerve. Our professionals can diagnose a pinched nerve and begin treatment in the same visit.
Causes and Risk Factors
Repetitive stress on a person’s joints or spine can contribute to a pinched nerve. Carrying too much weight, lifting heavy objects at work, performing repetitive tasks or certain medical conditions can cause or increase the likelihood of developing a pinched nerve. Muscles imbalances and postural issues play a significant role in determining your predisposition to developing nerve compression.
Age. Degenerative changes can occur with aging, there is a natural loss of joint space and changes in the rate of tissue repair that can predispose a person to nerve compression. Performing appropriate postural exercises and strengthening can help to mitigate the effects of again, Radius can perform a movement screening and prescribe the right routine for whole body health.
Bone Spurs. Certain medical conditions can cause the bones to form bone spurs (calcium deposits in places where they are not supposed to be). These deposits can encroach on the pathways of nerve fibers causing inflammation and pain and can limit mobility.
Sports or physical activities. Participation in sports means an increased risk of injury, which can cause inflammation or damage to a joint.
Labor-intensive jobs. Repetitive motion, particularly with poor form, can cause inflammation and injuries such as a disc bulge that results in a pinched nerve.
Obesity. Excess weight can put additional pressure on your nerves.
Diabetes. People with diabetes have a higher risk of nerve compression.
Rheumatoid Arthritis. Rheumatoid Arthritis causes inflammation in one’s joints, which can cause nerve compression.
Pregnancy. Pregnancy causes a woman to gain water and weight, which can contribute to nerve compression.
Complications
If a nerve remains pinched for an extended period, eventually it can become permanently damaged, causing chronic pain and impaired use of the area served by that nerve. If you are experiencing any of the previously mentioned symptoms see a Radius provider today for an evaluation and to begin treatment, early intervention leads to the greatest success.
Prevention
There are a few things one can do to limit the risk of pinching a nerve.
Follow safety guidelines at work or when using the equipment. This will ensure that your body will not have to withstand more torque than necessary in the event of an accident or when using improper technique.
Use correct posture/body positioning. When you sit, lie down, sleep, or stand, correct posture ensures that your joints are in an optimal position to manage load and appropriately distributed forces throughout your body.
Improve strength and flexibility when working out. Keeping your muscles and connective tissue at the appropriate tension with adequate strength for activities you need to complete is very helpful for avoiding inflammation and injury that might result in a pinched nerve.
Maintain a healthy weight. Proper diet, nutrition, and exercise will keep your weight down, thus reducing stress on your joints. It can also reduce your risk of developing diabetes or other health issues that might lead to a pinched nerve.
Diagnosis
To diagnose a pinched nerve, Radius will conduct an extensive examination and review your medical history. Orthopedic and range of motion evaluations are some of the ways a Radius provider evaluates your condition. This type of testing is an effective way to determine the affected nerve and what is causing the compression. If necessary your Radius provider can also refer you out for a nerve conductivity test known as an NCV. This can help confirm a diagnosis and assess possible damage to the nerve. Other imaging tests (MRI, CT scan) can provide further clarity and your Radius provider will recommend this if necessary.
Treatment
Radius specializes in treating musculoskeletal injuries and conditions, a pinched nerve falls under this category. The professionals at Radius provide relief from pinched nerves by performing manual therapy, specific stretches and/or strengthening exercises and teaching proper form and body control for everyday activities and lifts. These approaches help to heal tissue, reduce inflammation and swelling, and correct the initial cause of the nerve irritation. Our professionals also can recommend changes to everyday activities to improve your quality of life along with work modifications to help you heal in the short term and ways to move to keep you safe and prevent injury over the long term.
In some cases a patient may opt for, or require, surgery to alleviate the pressure on a nerve. Before taking that step please give our clinic a call, the best approach is to start with conservative care and progress from there. Surgery is a long road and even if it is determined to be the best course of action, prior treatment and strengthening contributes significantly to a successful outcome. If you have already undergone a surgical procedure related to a disc bulge of nerve compression and are still experiencing symptoms, evaluation and treatment from a Radius provider can certainly still benefit you. Please reach out with any questions or concerns, we are here to help restore your quality of life.
Radius Clinic is Your best Resource in the Sacramento Valley for Treating a Pinched Nerve
In Sacramento Valley, Radius serves individuals from all walks of life who have suffered injury. If you live in the counties of Sacramento, Nevada, Placer, or El Dorado, call or stop by one of our two convenient locations in Roseville or Grass Valley. We can evaluate and determine the cause of your symptoms. Often, we can provide relief on your first visit.