Pinched on St. Patrick's Day?

Fun Fact:  One gets pinched on St Patrick's day because they are not wearing green. It is a tradition that St. Patrick's revealers thought wearing green made one invisible to (fairy creatures) leprechauns, who would pinch anyone they could see not wearing green. So people began to do this as reminder that the leprechauns would sneak up and pinch you.

Serious Fact:  A pinched nerve occurs when there is "compression" (pressure) on a nerve. The pressure may be the result of repetitive motions. Or it may happen from holding your body in one position for long periods, such as keeping elbows bent while sleeping.

Nerves are most vulnerable at places in your body where they travel through narrow spaces but have little soft tissue to protect them. Nerve compression often occurs when the nerve is pressed between tissues such as:

• Ligament
• Tendon
• Bone

For example, inflammation or pressure on a nerve root exiting the spine may cause neck or low back pain. It may also cause pain to radiate from the neck into the shoulder and arm (cervical radiculopathy). Or pain may radiate into the leg and foot (sciatic nerve pain).

These symptoms may result from changes that develop in the spine's discs and bones. For example, if a disc weakens or tears -- known as a herniated disc -- pressure gets put on a spinal nerve.

Nerve compression in your neck or arm may also cause symptoms in areas such as your:

• Elbow
• Hand
• Wrist
• Fingers

This can lead to conditions such as:

• Peripheral neuropathy
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tennis elbow

If nerve compression lasts a long time, a protective barrier around the nerve may break down. Fluid may build up, which may cause:

• Swelling
• Extra pressure
• Scarring

The scarring may interfere with the nerve's function.

With nerve compression, sometimes pain may be your only symptom. Or you may have other symptoms without pain.

These are some of the more common symptoms of compressed nerves:

• Pain in the area of compression, such as the neck or low back
• Radiating pain, such as sciatica or radicular pain
• Numbness or tingling
• "Pins and needles" or a burning sensation
• Weakness, especially with certain activities

Sometimes symptoms worsen when you try certain movements, such as turning your head or straining your neck.

How long it takes for symptoms to end can vary from person to person. Treatment varies, depending on the severity and cause of the nerve compression.

You may find that you benefit greatly from simply resting the injured area and by avoiding any activities that tend to worsen your symptoms. In many cases, that's all you need to do.

If symptoms persist or pain is severe, see your doctor. You may need one or more types of treatment to shrink swollen tissue around the nerve.

In more severe cases, it may be necessary to remove material that's pressing on a nerve, such as:

• Scar tissue
• Disc material
• Pieces of bone

Work with your doctor to find the best approach for treating your symptoms. You are welcome to contact our office for a Free Evaluation (770) 345-2000.