Pinched Nerve in the Back and Neck

Description of a Pinched Nerve

“Pinched nerve” is a general term that is used to describe injuries to nerves or groups of nerves. Since nerves that run between the bony structures of the spine are most susceptible to “pinching” the term is most often used to describe compression of the spinal nerve roots.

Causes of a Pinched Nerve

Herniated discs are the most common reason for a pinched nerve along the vertebrae. This condition occurs when the gel-like center of a vertebral disc, the nucleus pulposus breaks through the outer ligament, the annulus fibrosis, of the intervertebral disc. This bulge of material extrusion puts pressure on the adjacent nerve root causing it to function improperly. The discs that are most prone to herniations are those in the cervical spine and the lumbar spine because these are the most flexible vertebrae.

Symptoms of a Pinched Nerve

Lumbar disc herniations most often occur between lumbar segments 4 and 5, and lumbar segment 5 and sacral segment 1.Herniations at these levels compress the L5 nerve, and the S1 nerve. Pinching of the L5 nerve can cause numbness, pain, burning and tingling sensations to radiate out from the affected area to the big toe. Pinching of the S1 nerve can cause radiating pain to the ankle and the sole and side of the foot.

Cervical disc herniations occur less frequently than lumbar disc herniations because there is less force in the cervical spine and less disc material between vertebrae. When nerve roots in the cervical spine are compressed or “pinched”, the result can be radiating pain to the arm. If the sensory nerves between the first and second or second and third cervical levels are pinched the result can be severe chronic cervico headaches.