Understanding Pinched Nerves
A pinched nerve in your back can trigger intense pain that runs from your lower back and down the rear of one leg running from the buttock down the back of the thigh and even into the calf and foot.
Pain from a pinched nerve may start abruptly or gradually. Usually, it is characterized by sharp, shooting pain that feels a lot like an electric shock. Moving the leg, back or other area of the body affected by the pinched nerve will often intensify this pain.
Pain from a pinched nerve may be spread evenly along the leg, but there usually are certain spots where the pain is more intense. This pain is often followed by numbness or a tingling feeling along the sciatic nerves, the longest nerve group in the body which runs from the lower back and down the rear of both legs.
Reasons for a Pinched Nerve.
A pinched nerve may arise from a process which causes pressure or irritation of the nerve roots which make up the sciatic nerve. This pressure might be triggered by a variety of factors, including things like a ruptured intervertebral disc, the narrowing of the bony spinal canal (called spinal stenosis), or, in rare cases, by an infection or tumor.
The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest in the body, measuring three-quarters of an inch in diameter in adults. It starts in the sacral plexus, the system of nerves found in the lower back (lumbosacral spine).
The sciatic nerve and its branches are what allow movement and feeling, or motor and sensory functions. in the thigh, knee, calf, ankle, foot and toes.
If your sciatic nerve is squeezed, or “pinched”, it can cause pain along these pathways. This is the reason pinched nerve pain can radiate or spread to other parts of your body.
Pinched nerve pain may be caused by a bulging or herniated disk, degenerative disk disease, piriformis syndrome, pregnancy, spinal stenosis, a spinal tumor or spinal infection, or by trauma.
All of these ailments can apply pressure to the sciatic nerve or other related nerve roots located in your lower back. It is this compression, or pinching, that induces your pain and other symptoms.
Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy and Pinched Nerves.
If you are experiencing recurring lower back pain caused by a pinched nerve, consider seeking treatment from one of our medical practitioners. By providing mild, non-surgical spinal decompression therapy, our team of spinal disc experts can help relieve the pressure brought on by your slipped disc and provide instant relief to your back pain.
If you or somebody you know is suffering from pain as the result of a pinched nerve or another type of lower back pain, we can help. Contact us today for your free appointment.
Our medical experts can tell you if gentle, non-surgical spinal decompression treatment is a good option for treating your pain.
Call South Charlotte Disc Center at (704) 583-6129 to Schedule A Complimentary Consultation!
