Your spinal cord is a key component of your central nervous system. Through it, the nerves carry important impulses to and from the rest of your body.
Pinched nerves may occur due to a variety of reasons but they can cause considerable damage if left untreated.
To avoid severe, lasting damage owing to a compressed nerve, early detection and diagnosis are important.
Pinched nerves present themselves in a variety of ways. Here are the symptoms you should look out for:
Numbness
A pinched nerve can hinder the flow of blood to other parts of your body. The first symptoms of numbness are likely to appear in your arms or hands.
The desensitized feeling is caused by oxygen deprivation to your nerve cells. Until you relieve the compression that’s blocking the blood flow, you’ll continue to struggle with this decreased sensation.
Don’t ignore this symptom since untreated numbness can lead to permanent nerve damage.
Sharp Pains
Studies prove that over 80 percent of the population experiences back pain at some point in their lives. Shooting, burning pain is a common symptom of nerve compression.
Inflammation of the nerve itself or its adjoining areas can cause sharp, distressing pain. Pain caused by pinched nerves can be sudden, hindering your daily functions by its unexpected appearance.
Radiating Pain
One of the most common symptoms of a pinched nerve is a burning pain that radiates outward. A tingling sensation accompanies the pain, causing constant discomfort.
The pain may radiate to other parts of your body if you ignore the symptoms. Scarring and swelling caused by a pinched nerve will cause the pain to spread outward.
Muscle Weakness
Nerves play the important role of transmitting messages from your brain to various parts of your body. When you’re consistently experiencing weakness in a certain muscle, it may be caused by a pinched nerve.
Compressed motor nerves will be unable to operate the way your brain instructs it to. It’s important to promptly address any muscle weakness by seeing a doctor as soon as possible.
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore the Signs
Pinched nerves may be caused by physical trauma, degenerative disc diseases, herniated discs, or aging. Leaving pinched nerves untreated for a long period of time can hurt your health and well-being.
Pinched nerves may be a sign of other underlying ailments making it necessary for you to get them checked if the problem persists.
At Houston Neurosurgery & Spine, our experienced neurosurgeon, Dr. West, is certified in the newest medical procedures and uses the latest technologies to address issues associated with the brain and spine at our neck and back pain clinic Houston.
As one of Houston’s leading back and spine center, we provide effective treatments for a number of spinal ailments. We provide non-invasive and minimally-invasive treatments for pinched nerves, cervical myelopathy, foraminal stenosis, sciatica, and cervical radiculopathy.
Call us today at 832.522.8500 to schedule an appointment in Houston.