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. Though fairly common, a pinched nerve they can cause a lot of pain and discomfort.

A nerve can become pinched at a number of different sites in your body. For example, a herniated disk in your lower spine may put pressure on a nerve root that results in pain that radiating down the back of your leg. Whereas a pinched nerve in your wrist can lead to pain and numbness in your hand and fingers (carpal tunnel syndrome).

One of the most frequent symptoms is pain and/or burning sensations radiating down your leg. Usually, this is a result of your sciatic nerve becoming pinched where it exits your lower spine (called your lumbar spine). Because branches of the sciatic nerve extend from your lumbar spine through your buttock and all the way down your leg, if the nerve gets compressed or irritated, you can feel pain, burning sensations, or a dull aching anywhere along that nerve pathway. Similarly, pain extending from your neck down your arm can be quite common when a nerve has become pinched in the neck portion of your spine (called your cervical spine). Irritation of a cervical nerve can cause pain and similar symptoms anywhere along the nerve pathway, including your shoulders, the very upper part of your back, your arms, and even your hands. 

Another sign you may have a pinched nerve, is if you experience weakness in your hands or legs. When you walk or use your hands to grip something, your nerves send information at lightning-fast speed to your brain, which in turn stimulates your muscles to react in specific ways. If a nerve is pinched, it can interfere with those signals. As a result, you might have poor grip strength or difficulty performing certain movements. 

If an individual continues to experience any of these signs or symptoms, they should be seen by a specialist in the field of Electrodiagnostic Medicine, https://emg-ncv.com, (EMG/NCS). For additional information, you can contact California Sports and Rehab Center. We can accommodate your needs in multiple locations in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. Please visit us at https://emg-ncv.com or call our office at (310)-652-6060 for any questions.