MAIN Health Pain Pinched Nerve

Pinched nerve pain occurs when a nerve is put under significant pressure by surrounding tissue, which could be muscles, tendons, or even bones.

The pressure, and subsequent damage to the nerve, is what causes the pain.

Although pain is certainly one of the more noticeable symptoms of a pinched nerve, it isn't the only one. Those with pinched nerves may also experience a numb feeling, tingling, or even weakness.

And while it is possible to have a pinched nerve anywhere on the body, there are a few very common sites, such as the spine and the wrists, where impingement on the nerve is far more likely to occur.

Any condition or injury that causes tissue to swell in some way can result in a pinched nerve, however some of the more common causes of pinched nerves are repetitive tasks, sometimes resulting in carpal tunnel syndrome. Other typical examples of nerve damage my arise from bad posture, arthritis, obesity, and of course a severe enough physical trauma suffered from sports, such as "tennis elbow."

The most common treatment for pinched nerve pain is to rest the affected area as much as possible, so that it has time to heal, which will relieve the pressure on the nerve. Since pinched nerve pain is commonly caused by inflammation of surrounding tissue, an anti-inflammatory can also be taken and should help relieve pain. In chronic cases, cortisone injections have also been shown to be very effective in treating inflammation.

If this treatment doesn't work, the next step is surgery to ease the pressure the nerve is being put under. This kind of surgery may involve removing tissue, or even severing tissue to make more room for the nerve, depending on where the injury is located.

Preventing pinched nerves and the pain that follows varies greatly depending on the cause of the pain, however two very common causes of pinched nerves, bad posture and repetitive stress, can both be easily avoided by consciously correcting posture and by limiting repetitive movements, while properly strengthening surrounding muscles.

More about pinched nerve pain treatment around the Web:

Pinched nerve - MayoClinic.com - The complete guide to causes & symptoms, treatment options including related medications and prescription drugs.

How to Treat a Pinched Nerve - Step-by-step guide with home care tips, related video, and visitor comments, from eHow.com.

also see in Pain -> Alternative pain therapies

Muscle pain | Neck pain | Sciatic nerve damage