The spinal column is comprised of bones, called vertebrae, and soft spongy discs that separate the vertebrae. Housed within and protected by this spinal column is the spinal cord, a collection of nerve fibers that runs from the brain to the bottom of the spine. At the level of each disc, spinal nerves branch off of the spinal cord and travel to the peripheral areas of the body and control all aspects of movement and sensation. These delicate spinal nerves are susceptible to pressure being placed on them by surrounding soft tissues or spinal joints that have decayed. When a spinal nerve has even mild undue pressure placed on it, a variety of symptoms can occur.
Pain
Symptoms of a pinched nerve are often manifested first by a pattern of pain determined by the nerve compressed. According to the Mayo Clinic, pinched nerves can occur anywhere in the body, but often occur in the lumbar spine. This cause pain to radiate or travel down the back of the leg, a condition commonly referred to as sciatica. Disc herniation or bone spurs caused by osteoarthritis often cause pinched nerves. When either of these things place pressure on a spinal nerve, pain occurs at the site of pressure or radiates along the nerve's path. Coughing or sneezing aggravates pain related to a pinched spinal nerve. Nerve pain is often described as burning or stabbing pain as opposed to the dull achiness that usually occurs with muscle strains.
Numbness/Tingling
When a spinal nerve that is responsible for normal sensation is compressed, it can cause altered sensation, such as numbness and tingling. This altered sensation, in conjunction with radiating pain, is referred to as radiculopathy. According to the Cleveland Clinic, radiculopathy often causes more symptoms in the lower arms and legs than it does in the spine or at the site of the original pressure.
Muscle Weakness
Each spinal nerve, in addition to supplying sensation to the skin along a particular dermatome, also supplies motor function to a muscle or set of muscles. When this nerve is compressed, the motor function in these muscles is affected and muscle weakness occurs. A patient who experiences muscle weakness due to a pinched nerve in the cervical spine may lose grip strength in her hands.
Muscle Spasm
According to Spine Universe, muscle spasms in the back often accompany pinched nerves and can be quite painful. Doctors usually prescribed muscle relaxers to help break muscle spasms and the cycle of pain they contribute to.
