Do I Have a Pinched Nerve?

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You may not be sure of what the symptoms are for a pinched nerve, and if that’s the case, you may be asking yourself – “Do I have a pinched nerve?” There are some definite symptoms and warning signs for pinched nerves, so by reading the material below, you should be able to determine whether or not you have actually experienced a pinched nerve, or if what you’re feeling is attributable to some other cause. Here is how you can tell, and then you’ll know how you should proceed in order to have the condition treated.

Symptoms of a pinched nerve

When you’re not sure about whether or not you really do have a pinched nerve, these are the symptoms to look out for:

  • Weakness in the legs – whenever you’re walking or using your legs, information is transferred between muscles and your brain, so that your legs can perform as needed. If any nerves in your legs have been pinched, you might feel weakness in the legs or you may have difficulty making the desired movement.
  • Burning sensation – if your sciatic nerve has been pinched, you may feel a burning sensation which radiates all the way down your leg. You may also feel a dull ache or some kind of pain, anywhere along that pathway.
  • Neck and arm pain – if you have a pinched nerve somewhere in the neck area of your spine, you may feel pain anywhere from the neck down to your arm, or in your shoulders. You may also feel a tingling sensation in your hands if you have a pinched nerve in the upper neck area.
  • Pins and needles – when a nerve has been irritated or compressed, it can interfere with signals that get transferred between local muscles and the brain, and that can cause the pins and needles sensation you feel in a particular area.
  • Numbness – in some cases, a pinched nerve is severe enough that it actually shuts down communication between your brain and the affected area. As a result of this shutdown, you may feel numbness in a certain area, or you may have a complete lack of feeling somewhere.
  • Reduced grip strength – when you have a pinched nerve in your cervical vertebrae, it may not be able to transmit necessary information to the brain, and this can interfere with the performance of your muscles. That means you may experience reduced grip strength, or you may have difficulty with writing or other motor activities.
  • Incontinence – your bladder and bowel movements are assisted by nerves, and when the nerves in your lower back become severely compressed or pinched, it may cause you to have unplanned bowel movements or urinary leakage.
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Treatment for pinched nerves

In most cases, mild versions of pinched nerves will go away simply by resting the affected area. For more persistent cases, it may be helpful to have the affected area adjusted by a knowledgeable professional. If the pinched nerve is actually painful, reach out to the skilled chiropractor at Creekside Chiropractic at (801) 693-4088 or submit our online form for a new patient consultation.

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