For many people, having a pinched nerve is a common disorder. In fact, this condition will affect nearly everyone at some point in their lives, in some part of their body, because it is often caused by the natural aging process of the spine. Two of the most likely areas for a pinched nerve to develop are in the neck and the back near the spinal cord.

When nerve compression occurs, this can lead to a wide range of symptoms that can travel the length of the nerve pathway — from the spine to the extremities. Treating this condition can be done by reducing the pressure on the pinched nerve, but in order to do this successfully, the exact cause and location of the nerve compression must first be identified. To help you get a further overview of this degenerative condition, read the information provided in the following article.

Nerves

The brain sends and receives motor and sensory signals, both voluntary and involuntary, by way of the central nervous system as well as a complex infrastructure of nerves that branch off the spinal cord and extend throughout the body. When this transfer of information is interfered with, the body responds with a number of potential symptoms depending on the specific pinched nerve, the severity of the compression and the cause of the problem.

Some of the symptoms frequently associated with nerve compression include:

• Pain
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Muscle weakness
• A feeling of pins and needles

Because these signals travel throughout the nerve pathways, a pinched nerve in the lower back could result in pain and symptoms in the buttocks, legs or feet, depending on the severity of the pinched nerve.

Degenerative spine conditions

Pinched nerves in the neck and the back are commonly a result of a degenerative spine condition that develops gradually over time as a result of regular wear. Herniated or bulging discs, osteoarthritis (arthritis of the spine), the presence of bone spurs, spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease can all result in a pinched nerve.

Treatments for a pinched nerve

In most cases, a pinched nerve can be treated with a series of noninvasive treatments, such as the use of anti-inflammatories, undergoing physical therapy, performing low-impact exercises and alternating applications of heat and cold. If you continue to experience pain resulting from a pinched nerve in your neck or back and conservative treatment has proven ineffective after several weeks or months, contact USA Spine Care to learn about our minimally invasive nerve decompression procedures.

Our minimally invasive decompression and stabilization procedures work to relieve your pain and symptoms by reducing the pressure on the pinched nerve. Our board-certified surgeons+ use a small incision that is muscle sparing to perform these procedures, thereby resulting in a shorter recovery time and a safer and effective alternative to traditional open neck and back surgery.^

As the leader in minimally invasive spine surgery, USA Spine Care has had the privilege of helping more than 75,000 patients find lasting relief from their chronic neck or back conditions, such as a pinched nerve. To find out if you are a potential candidate for our outpatient surgery, reach out to our caring team today and ask for a free MRI review.*