Painful Sensations of a Pinched Nerve

Imagine how horrible it is for someone to find it impossible to sit or stand for any length of time. With a pinched nerve in the back, pins and needles travel down the neck and into the legs. Legs and feet feel numb. An incredible burning sensation radiates from the back into the hips and legs.

No matter what you do, the discomfort does not decrease.

A pinched nerve is excruciating because you cannot simply change position and have it go away. Worse, the numbness and tingling in your arms bring fear of what is wrong with you and you may find yourself anxious and panicked.

Unable to sit or stand with any level of comfort, you feel helpless. Sneezing and coughing add to your level of pain. Walking around is impossible. Lying down does not ease the pain making it extremely difficult to sleep. Life with a pinched nerve is debilitating. For some, the pain may improve in a few days. Others live with this pain every day!

How a Pinched Nerve Occurs

A pinched nerve occurs when the nerves in your back become pinched or pushed on by the bone or cartilage that surrounds it. You may have a slipped disc, the bone may be deteriorating, there may be a tumor pushing on the nerve or you may simply have poor posture. It's important to seek medical care if a pinched nerve has not improved over a couple days. Only a doctor can pinpoint the exact cause and determine if surgery is required.

Video: What is a Pinched Nerve?

Pinched Nerve Versus Shingles

Some people mistake shingles for a pinched nerve. The only comparison between the two is the pain that goes deep into the nerves.

Shingles occurs in older adults who had chicken pox in their childhood. When you've had chicken pox, the virus remains in your body in a dormant stage. It can reappear in those who are stressed or have weakened immune systems from illness or medications. The return of the chicken pox virus leads to incredible pain that radiates from the nerves.

Shingles attacks the nerve, causing inflammation. The pain is often limited to the neck and shoulders, but it can travel down the spine and into the legs. However, shingles comes with a painful, blistery rash that appears in a band or limited area. Catching shingles early is key. If you don't see a doctor as soon as you believe you have shingles, it can take months to recover.

Video: Shingles Pathophysiology

Common Treatments for Pinched Nerves

Pinched nerves usually go away with rest. On average, the pain should subside within three days. With severe cases, a doctor might require you to wear a back brace to improve your posture while the nerve heals. It's also a possibility that physical therapy will be ordered to help improve your posture and improve the muscle tone in your back. Hot and cold compresses help reduce the pain and swelling on a temporary basis. You might find them to be helpful in relieving some of your discomfort.

While the pinched nerve is inflamed, you may be told to take NSAIDs like Ibuprofen or Naproxen to help alleviate the pain and swelling. Stronger prescription medications are available for chronic pain. Many herbal remedies are also effective.

In rare cases, surgery may be required. Especially when bone spurs, herniated disks or tumors are causing the pinched nerve. Today's surgeries require little time and usually do not keep you in the hospital for more than a day or two. Some surgeries are even done on an outpatient basis.