A pinched nerve is caused when an excessive amount of pressure is put on the nerve from surrounding tissues, like your bones, muscles, cartilage and tendons. When a nerve is pinched, normal function is disrupted in that area. Pinched nerves can occur in any part of your body, though symptoms can be more severe if the affected nerve is connected to your spinal cord.
Numbness
One of the hallmark symptoms of a pinched nerve is numbness or a decreased sensation around the area of the nerve. The numbness will be localized to the affected area, and the symptoms may come and go. If the pinched nerve is in your hand, your fingers may feel numb as well, which can impair use of the hand.
Pain
The pain from a pinched nerve can be sharp or burning. Unlike the numbness, the pain can spread out, such as throughout your arm if the nerve is in the lower part of your arm. However, if your pinched nerve is connected to your spinal cord, then the pain can be worse. Slight body movements, like coughing or sneezing, can increase the intensity of the pain.
Paresthesia
Paresthesia, which is a tingling sensation, is also a symptom of a pinched nerve. In the area of the pinched nerve, you may feel like tiny pin-pricks are occurring on your skin. Another symptom that is similar to paresthesia is the feeling that your limb has "fallen asleep." Both of these symptoms happen frequently.
Muscle Weakness
Because the surrounding muscle can be the cause of the pressure on the nerve, weakness can occur to both the nerve and the muscle. The muscle weakness can impact your strength in that area and can impede your daily activity. In addition to the weakness, you may also experience twitching in that area.
