A pinched is when a nerve comes under strong pressure from surrounding tissues such as cartilage, bones, tendons, or muscles. The pressure disrupts nerve function, causing pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness. When pinched, pain can occur in several parts of the body: for example, if a nerve is pinched in the spine in the lumbar region, then the pain can radiate to the leg.
Causes of pinching
The reasons are varied. It could be a misalignment of the vertebrae. Sometimes pinching is the result of hypothermia or infection. A growing tumor can also provoke pain. The most common cause of pinching is a violation of the functionality of the intervertebral discs. They are a kind of shock absorbers that prevent injury. Age, some diseases and high loads on the spine gradually reduce the shock-absorbing effect of the discs, then they begin to put pressure on the nerve and cause pain. So, the main causes of pinching include: hypothermia, viral infections, injuries, physical inactivity, excessive loads, structural features of the spine.
Symptoms
If you pinched a nervein the back, what to do is not immediately clear, since discomfort may be the result of some other ailment. When pinched, the pain is constant or may be manifested by seizures. It occurs both in moments of relaxation and in tension. Pain can manifest itself not where the nerve was infringed: for example, it pinched the nerve under the shoulder blade, but gives it to the cervical region or even the arm. The skin in the problem area may turn red, numb. Edema, headaches, incoordination, excessive sweating are possible. If the symptoms indicate that a person has pinched a nerve in the back, there is no need to explain what to do: you should immediately consult a doctor. This disease can lead to the most unpleasant consequences, up to paralysis.
Pinched a nerve in the back - what to do?
Modern medicine has everything necessary to correctly determine the location of pinching and establish its causes. The most accurate is x-ray examination. In some cases, magnetic resonance imaging or an electrodiagnostic study may also be prescribed to determine the conductivity of nerve fibers. This is necessary to confirm the diagnosis or identify possible pathology.
How to treat?
If the diagnosis is confirmed, and the patient really pinched the nerve in the back, what to do - the doctor decides. As a rule, the patient is prescribed complex drug treatment and physiotherapy (heating, exercise therapy, electrophoresis, ultraviolet irradiation, hydrotherapy, reflexology, therapeuticmassage, radon baths, etc.). The latter plays a special role. To restore bone tissue, vitamin complexes and protective preparations are prescribed. As an anesthetic, not only drugs are used, but also ointments and gels based on snake and bee venom, which often turn out to be very effective. In some particularly difficult cases, surgery may be required.
