A proper pinched nerve diagnosis begins with you. If you wake up in the morning with sharp neck pain after sleeping with your head in an awkward position, don’t automatically assume that what you’re experiencing is the result of a pinched nerve. In all likelihood, neck pain caused by prolonged improper posture is caused by a strained muscle or a sprained ligament – the two most common causes of back or neck pain. These conditions are frequently referred to as pinched nerves, but in actuality, a pinched nerve occurs when a spinal nerve is compressed by an anatomical abnormality within the spine. So, the first thing to ask yourself if you begin to feel neck or back pain is, “Have I done anything recently that might have caused a strained muscle or a sprained ligament?” If the answer is yes, then chances are, you don’t have a true pinched nerve.

See a Doctor for a Proper Pinched Nerve Diagnosis

If you don’t believe you’ve injured a muscle or a ligament, or you can’t recall any activity that might have caused a strain or a sprain, it’s vital that you begin to monitor your symptoms very closely. Have you lost mobility in your back or neck? Are you experiencing diminished sensation or tingling in the extremities? Is there an otherwise unexplained ache or tenderness at a specific spot on your spine? These are signs that you may be experiencing the early stages of nerve compression. The symptoms will differ for everyone, but in general, compression of a spinal nerve produces the following:

– Localized pain at the site of the compression. This can occur at any level of the spine, but is most common within the lumbar (lower back) and cervical (neck) regions.

– Pain that radiates along the length of a nerve into other parts of the body. Compression in the neck can be felt in the shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. In the lower back, where you’ll find the sciatic nerve, compression can produce sharp, shooting pain in the lower back, buttocks, legs, feet, and toes.

– Numbness in the parts of the body that are innervated by the affected nerve.

– Tingling in the parts of the body that are innervated by the compressed nerve.

– Weakness, spasms, and/or cramping in the muscle groups that are innervated by the compressed nerve.

If you begin to experience any of these symptoms – especially for prolonged periods of time – see your doctor and come prepared to answer questions about the nature, severity, and duration of your symptoms.

Diagnostic Tools to Ascertain the Presence of a Pinched Nerve

In addition to asking about your symptoms, your doctor will perform a physical and neurological exam. This can include tests to assess your range of motion, reflexes, and muscle strength, and palpation of the tender areas of the spine. Your doctor will also ask about your medical history, as well as that of your immediate family. The degenerative spine conditions that lead to nerve compression often have a genetic component, so it’s important for your doctor to know whether your parents or grandparents may have suffered from degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, or other spinal conditions.

In addition to performing an exam and asking questions, your doctor may order X-rays, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test, or a computer tomography (CT) scan to get an inside look at the elements of the spine. Contrast dye tests might also be ordered to determine the precise location of the condition causing the pinched nerve. Finally, once a pinched nerve diagnosis has been confirmed, your doctor will work closely with you to develop a conservative, nonsurgical treatment plan that may include pain medication, exercise, stretching, physical therapy, or other methods. In most cases, only if chronic pinched nerve symptoms persist after several weeks or months of conservative treatment, will surgery become an option.

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of pinched nerves and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: Pinched nerve