A pinched nerve in the back might not be what you think it is. Many people use the term “pinched nerve” to refer to sharp muscular pain or stiffness. It is the kind of pain that might occur if you feel a twinge when you lift a heavy object, or if you sleep with your body in an awkward position one night. This type of pain is known as acute pain, which means there is a clearly identifiable moment when it began and it will likely fade over a relatively short period of time – a couple of weeks, at most.

So, if that sharp pain we all feel every once in a while is not, in fact, a pinched nerve, what is? To understand that, you need to know a few things about the spinal anatomy.

Defining a Pinched Nerve in the Back

First, a brief overview of the spinal anatomy. The spine is composed of 33 or 34 stacked bones called vertebrae. The top two dozen vertebrae (from the neck to the lower back) are separated by cushions known as intervertebral discs and connected by ligaments and other tissue. The vertebrae meet at hinge-like structures known as facet joints. The spinal cord is protected by the vertebrae, and runs downward through an opening known as the spinal canal. At each vertebral level, paired spinal nerve roots branch off the spinal cord and transmit sensory and motor signals to and from the brain.

These nerve roots are nestled in lateral (sideways) openings known as foramina. In a healthy spine, there is plenty of room for the nerve roots to pass. When something changes the shape or threatens the stability of the spine, such as a traumatic injury or a degenerative spine condition, nerve roots can become vulnerable to being compressed by surrounding tissues. This is the definition of a pinched nerve: the compression or irritation of a nerve root caused by an anatomical abnormality within the spine.

Causes of a Pinched Nerve in the Back

As the body ages, years of wear and tear begin to take a toll on the spinal anatomy. This is particularly true in the flexible, weight-bearing cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) regions. In addition to normal wear and tear, some people develop spinal arthritis and/or degenerative disc disease. These are degenerative spine conditions, and – along with traumatic injury – they are the most prominent underlying causes of spinal nerve compression. People who develop these conditions might experience the following anatomical abnormalities:

– Bulging disc – the protrusion of a section of the cartilaginous outer wall of an intervertebral disc into the spinal canal.

– Herniated disc – the extrusion of a portion of the gel-like nucleus of a disc through a tear in the outer wall and into the spinal canal.

– Osteophytes – excess growths of bone that occur near unstable joints; also known as bone spurs.

– Collapsed disc – while discs do not spontaneously “collapse,” they often become thinner over time, allowing the vertebrae on either side of each disc to move closer together

In addition, ligament ossification or calcification might cause a pinched nerve in the back. Spinal ligaments begin to lose their elasticity over time. Inelastic ligaments might protrude into the spinal canal and make contact with a nerve or the spinal cord during spinal extension (holding the back straight), as opposed to flexion, during which the spine is bent forward and the ligaments are stretched tight.

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.

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 pinched nerves and other spinal conditions. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/back_problems/pinched_nerve/

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: Aging
Keywords: Pinched nerve