We don’t manage pain. We treat it.

What Is a Pinched Nerve?

How do you know what the right pinched nerve treatments are out there for you? If you are having back, arm or leg pain, a pinched nerve might be the cause. A pinched nerve happens when nerves in your spine or other parts of the body are pressed by surrounding tissue. In many cases, the cause is a herniated disk that has slipped out between vertebrae in the spinal cord and presses on the spinal nerve that goes down the leg. As a result, you can feel immense pain, or even a sensation of tingling and numbness.

There are billions of nerves in the human body that send signals from the brain and the nervous system. When a nerve is compressed —pinched— the signal that the body sends is that of pain.

The condition can be mild or severe and if left untreated, it can lead to long-lasting issues or become a chronic condition. Therefore, it is imperative that you treat a pinched nerve with the assistance of a pain professional. An accurate diagnosis is essential to finding the right treatment as early as possible.

What Causes a Pinched Nerve?

The most common causes of a pinched nerve are:

  • A herniated disc
  • Repetitive motions that strain the back and spine
  • Swelling that pushes against the spinal cord
  • Holding the same pose for long periods of time

Signs and Symptoms of a Pinched Nerve

Common symptoms of a pinched nerve are:

  • Weak back muscles
  • Numbness or tingling
  • Tightness or a pinching under the skin
  • A sharp burning pain in a specific part of the back

In some cases, you can’t reverse the damage caused by a pinched nerve. However, treatment usually relieves pain (and other symptoms) and solves the root cause of the problem.

a woman grabbing her neck in pain because of a pinched nerve

Learn more about back pain

Pinched Nerve Treatment Options

The main goal of any pinched nerve treatment is for the nerve to break free of its pinched placement. When suffering from a pinched nerve, it is extremely important not to overuse the back muscles and the spine. Something that patients can do at home is rest and sleep flat on their back to help ease the back pain. IN the same vein, there are other ways to mask chronic back pain while waiting for a doctor’s consultation, such as:

  • Getting full rest and sleep
  • Massaging the back
  • Wearing a back brace or splint
  • Alternating heat and cold therapy: the cold contracts the blood vessels therefore reducing inflammation and the heat assists circulation and the incoming flow of nutrients that can heal the injured tissues. 
  • Taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs

If the pain continues for more than a few weeks or becomes chronic, patients should look for further treatment and assistance. The pinched nerve may not be able to release itself without additional treatment.

Some of the most successful treatments for a pinched nerve include:

Microdosing Pain Pumps

COOLIEF*

Regenerative Medicine

Spinal Cord Stimulation

Treating a Pinched Nerve at Space City Pain

The board-certified pain specialists at Space City Pain specialize in treating pain caused by pinched nerves. We offer a range of cutting-edge treatments to ease pain and find a long-lasting solution to the problem. Our physicians are pioneers when it comes to bringing innovative treatments that provide long term pain relief. At our core, we treat both the patient and the condition, underpinning the process from the first appointment. In addition, our Spanish-English bilingual and bicultural staff can welcome people from diverse backgrounds.