If you have been noticing numbness, tingling, or weakness around your wrists, neck, or lower back, a pinched nerve might be the answer. Pinched nerves are among the most common musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the U.S., and prompt treatment is essential to get back to health. Learn how you can know if you have one with our following insights from our pain specialists in Webster, Texas.
Understanding Pinched Nerves
When bones, cartilages, muscles, or tendons apply too much pressure into a particular nerve, you get what is known as a pinched nerve. This usually causes pain, numbness, or weakness in the area and eventually has a significant impact on its performance.
Most patients experience pinched nerves in the lower spine, wrist, and neck. These can be caused by repetitive motion injuries, improper posture, bone spurs, herniated discs, arthritis, inflammation, and similar circumstances.
Most Common Pinched Nerves Symptoms
While it can depend on the specific cause and location of the pinched nerve, common warning signs include:
- Numbness or a decreased sensation in the area
- Muscle weakness
- Pain that gets worse with particular movements
- Radiating pain (for example, it starts at your lower back and travels down your leg)
- Sharp, aching, or burning sensations
- Tingling
Do I Have a Pinched Nerve?
While a proper diagnosis might be done by a professional, there are several questions you can ask yourself in order to know if it’s time to get an appointment:
- Is my sensation decreasing in a specific area of my body?
- Am I experiencing sharp, aching, or burning sensations that seem to “radiate” or “travel” from one part of my body to another?
- Have I felt any muscle weakness in a particular area?
- Does my discomfort get worse when performing certain activities like turning my head or bending my body?
- Do I have tingling sensations in my fingers or toes?
- Are my hands or feet “falling asleep” constantly?
- Do I tend to have a poor posture?
- Did I recently make a bad movement or got involved in an activity that could have caused strain in my muscles, joints, or nerves?
If you catch yourself answering “yes” to one or more of these questions, chances are you have some kind of nerve damage. When the pain persists over a few days, it’s time to schedule a time with your pain specialist and get to the root of the problem.
Treatment for Pinched Nerve in Webster, Texas
After assessing your condition and making a proper diagnosis, your pain specialist will determine the best path for you, which will involve at least one of the following:
- Physical therapy
- Epidural steroid injections
- Chiropractic care
- Minimally invasive procedures
At home, you can try several strategies to help you manage the pain and enhance results, such as resting from aggravating activities, ice and heat therapy, and stretching exercises. Always make sure to follow your doctor’s instructions and know your body’s limits.
Our Approach at Space City Pain
We know how uncomfortable and incapacitating it can be to live with constant pain in any part of your body. With prompt diagnosis and care, you can take care of your nerve damage and enjoy a pain-free life again. We will make sure to take the best care of you so you can kiss your worries goodbye and re-find comfort in your own body!
Our board certified healthcare providers have made Space City Pain a pioneer in pain management in the community since 2004. Our friendly, bilingual, and highly specialized staff excels at providing pain relief to patients. If you are looking to get back to your old self and a pain-free life, book an appointment by calling 281-338-4443 or send us a message online today.
We don’t manage pain, we treat it.
