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• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Recognizing the symptoms
• Part 2 of 3: Getting the diagnosis
• Part 3 of 3: Assessing the risk

Too much pressure on your muscles, joints, and tendons can pinch a nerve. A pinched nerve can cause pain, numbness, tingling and even reduced nerve function. You may have a pinched nerve in your neck, back, or other parts of the body, such as your wrist or arm. There are several things you can do to find out if you have a pinched nerve. Always see the doctor if you have pain, tingling or numbness anywhere in your body.

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Part 1 of 3: Recognizing the symptoms

1. Watch for muscle weakness. Muscle weakness is a common symptom of a pinched nerve. Notice if you notice a decrease in strength in any part of your body, as that could mean you have a pinched nerve.
   • For example, if you have a pinched nerve in your wrist, it can affect the functioning of your fingers and thumb, reducing your grip strength.
2. Look for a feeling as if needles are being inserted into your skin. This is called "paresthesia". It is usually described as a stinging or itching sensation on the skin. If you notice that a part of the body tingles, hurts, or is weak, it could be that a nerve is pinched.
3. Look for a sharp, burning, or nagging pain. You may have pain in a certain area of ​​your body or pain radiating from a certain area. For example, if you have a pinched nerve in your neck, you may feel a sharp pain only in that area, or the pain may radiate from that area to other parts of your body.
   • Sharp lower back pain can radiate to the buttocks and legs. Pain in the upper back can radiate to the shoulders and even arms. Bending, straining and lifting will make the pain worse.
4. Look for numbness. You may have a tingling or numb feeling where the pinched nerve is. For example, a pinched nerve in the shoulder can lead to numbness in your shoulder or part of your arm.
5. Assess whether symptoms get worse at night. Some people with a pinched nerve cannot sleep well because the pain gets worse at night. It is then difficult to find a good sleeping position because it continues to hurt, no matter how they lie.
   • Sleeping on the back or side can put pressure on the spine and neck, causing the nerves in those areas to be compressed more, causing the pinched nerve to hurt even more.

Part 2 of 3: Getting the diagnosis

1. If symptoms persist, see a doctor. If your pinched nerve symptoms continue for more than a week, or if your symptoms don't get better after taking painkillers or using a warm compress, see your doctor. Tell your doctor what the symptoms are, when they started, and what seems to be helping (if anything helps).
   • Tell your doctor about any changes in the amount of exercise you've had and if you've noticed changes in your bowel movements or how often you need to urinate.
   • Be aware that if you don't treat a pinched nerve, it can lead to other conditions, such as neuropathy, tennis elbow, or carpal tunnel syndrome.
2. Get examined. Your doctor will examine your body to see if there is a problem. Make sure you point out where you have symptoms. For example, if you have tingling or numbness in a specific spot in your leg, point to that specific spot.
   • Over time, a pinched nerve can cause swelling, pressure, and scarring, so your doctor may want to check. Let your doctor know if you notice any of these symptoms.
3. Undergo some investigations. Your doctor may not be able to make the diagnosis based on a physical exam alone. Therefore, you may have to undergo some examinations. Some exams your doctor might recommend include:
   • MRI scan. Your doctor may want to have an MRI scan to get a good look at the affected area. MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create images of the inside of the body.
   • Nerve conduction research. In this test, you get a number of electrodes on your skin to measure how your nerves respond to a small electrical current.
   • Electromyography (EMG). In this test, the doctor inserts a needle into the muscles that you are experiencing symptoms to measure the response of those muscles and determine whether nerve damage has occurred.
   • X-ray. Although you cannot see nerves on an X-ray, it can help the doctor determine if there is bone breakdown or changes in your bones due to arthritis.

Part 3 of 3: Assessing the risk

1. Know that you are more at risk for a pinched nerve if you are overweight. Obesity can predispose people to pinched nerves because the extra weight puts more pressure on different parts of the body.
2. Note that sex also plays a role. Women are more likely to have a pinched nerve because they are more likely to suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition that causes numbness and tingling in the thumb, index and middle fingers.
   • This does not affect the back, but it can wreak havoc on the hands and arms.
   • If women become pregnant and gain a lot of weight, they can also suffer from a pinched nerve.
3. Think about your lifestyle and recent activities. A pinched nerve can be caused by repetitive or strenuous activities. Think about your hobbies, daily activities, or things you have recently done that may have resulted in the pinched nerve.
   • A repetitive motion such as knitting or typing can lead to a pinched nerve in the wrist. Likewise, vigorous physical activity such as running can cause a pinched nerve in your hip or back.
4. Know that rheumatoid arthritis is also a risk factor. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, it increases the chances of getting a pinched nerve. If you have arthritis, start treatment right away to reduce the risk of a pinched nerve.
5. Consider your family history. If a family member has ever had a pinched nerve, you are more likely to get it too. Some people are prone to getting a pinched nerve because of their family members. Talk about it in your family - are there others who have had a pinched nerve? Do they know others, perhaps distant relatives, who are also affected?
   • If there are a family of conditions that can lead to obesity or arthritis, you are also more likely to get a pinched nerve as a symptom of these health problems.
6. Take bone offshoots into account. In this condition, your spine hardens and loses flexibility. This ensures that there is less room for the nerves, so that they can become trapped in your back.
   • Bone suckers often form where the bones meet - that is, in the joints. But they can also form in your spine wherever your bones meet. These are called osteophytes, and they are small protrusions of bone along the edges of your bones. And that is of course not good for your nerves!
7. Watch your posture. Bad posture increases the risk of a pinched nerve. If you are not sitting or standing properly, your back may be misaligned, which can pinch a nerve.
   • If you think poor posture might be the culprit for your back pain, read the article Improving your posture or the article Improving your sleeping position.