Pinched Nerve in Back - Understanding the Signs and Symptoms

A Pinched Nerve in Back is often associated with a slipped disc, ruptured disc, prolapsed disc or degenerative disc disease. The most common term used to describe such condition is herniated disc. Others refer to it as bulging disc. It happens when the nerve that travels in between the vertebrae (known as the backbone) has been impinged or compressed causing symptoms of numbness, burning and a tingling-type of pain along the nerve path.

The causes vary in nature but most have something to do with postural dysfunctions that put abnormal pressure on the disc situated between the vertebral bodies which eventually cause the wear and tear. When this happens, the area that has been affected gets in contact with the nerve thereby causing pain.

Muscle imbalance or wrong pull of the muscle secondary to a wrong twisting motion and improper lifting manoeuvre can likewise cause pinched nerve in the back. In such cases, the muscles involved along with the other structures can cause abnormal pressure or impingement on the nerve causing dull and aching pain. In some cases it may even result in sharp, shooting and excruciating pain.

Other symptoms include numbness along the affected area that radiates all the way down to the lower extremities, inability to move the trunk and limitation of motion, pain during walking and when standing up and a throbbing pain that does not seem to go away even when you are not engaged in any physical movements.

People who have suffered from pinched nerve in the back complain of low back pain that can either be localized, diffused or radiating. The type and nature of pain depends upon the severity of the nerve impingement as well as the location (or level) of the affected nerve. Most people who suffer from this injury or condition experience limitation in their movements and difficulty moving around.

There are some who can manage to walk with support but may require assistance in some of their activities of daily living or ADL's particularly in going to the bathroom, using the stairs and getting dressed. The pain can become very disturbing which, in more severe cases, can lead to disability.

It should be understood that most cases of pinched nerve in the back, particularly the ones which are secondary to degenerative joint disease, does not happen overnight. It may be the result of a consistent bad lifting or posture habit that gradually causes increased presure on the nerve. It takes a relatively long time before the condition can cause a nerve to be put under significant pressure to cause the pain, numbness and tingling sensation that radiates in other parts of the body. This is something that should be understood about the course of this disease.

In cases wherein postural dysfunction is the main cause of the impingement or slipped disc, the pain is indeed very sudden but usually, appropriate treatment and therapy are initiated as soon as the inflammation subsides. Lastly, pinched nerve in back is a painful condition that requires medical attention and physical therapy. Postural training and proper trunk movements are usually taught during the therapy sessions to avoid recurrence.