A pinched nerve can make your arm buzz, your fingers go numb or your leg ache in ways that don’t seem connected to your spine. Pinched nerve treatment at Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation of NY & CT (PMR) has two jobs: finding which nerve is irritated and why, then easing the irritation with exercise and hands-on care. Appointments are available in Danbury, CT, Brewster, NY.
What is a pinched nerve?
A nerve is pinched when nearby tissue presses on or inflames it. In the spine, this usually happens where a nerve root exits between two vertebrae, which doctors call radiculopathy. Common culprits are a herniated disc, arthritis-related bone spurs and a narrowed exit opening.
Pinched nerve in the neck vs. the back
Pinched nerve in the neck
Cervical radiculopathy often causes pain that starts in the neck or near the shoulder blade and travels into the arm. You may feel tingling in certain fingers or find that resting your hand on top of your head eases the pain. Discs are the usual cause in younger adults, bone spurs later in life.
Pinched nerve in the back
Lumbar radiculopathy sends pain into the buttock, leg or foot. Irritated lower roots cause sciatica, while higher roots can send pain to the front of the thigh. Sitting, bending, coughing or sneezing often make a pinched nerve in the back feel worse.
Common symptoms
- Sharp, burning or electric pain that follows a nerve’s path
- Numbness and tingling, or a limb that feels like it has fallen asleep
- Muscle weakness or reduced reflexes
- Symptoms that change with neck or back position
- Pain that’s worse at night or right after waking
When to get urgent care for nerve symptoms
Some emergencies can look like a pinched nerve at first. Call 911 right away for:
- Sudden one-sided weakness or numbness, a drooping face or trouble speaking (possible stroke)
- Chest pressure or tightness with arm or jaw pain, breathlessness or a cold sweat (possible heart attack)
- Losing control of your bladder or bowels, trouble passing urine, or groin numbness
- Weakness that spreads or worsens over a few hours
How PMR pinpoints the irritated nerve
Each nerve root supplies a particular patch of skin and set of muscles, so a careful exam can narrow down the level. Your provider checks sensation, strength and reflexes, then uses tests such as Spurling’s test for the neck or a straight-leg raise for the low back to see which positions reproduce your symptoms.
When an EMG helps
EMG and nerve conduction testing records the electrical activity of muscles and times how fast signals travel along a nerve, showing where the problem is and how much the nerve is affected. Because nerve changes take time to appear, testing is usually done when symptoms have lasted several weeks, when there is weakness or when the diagnosis is unclear.
Pinched nerve treatment options
Your plan may combine:
- Physical therapy: gentle nerve glides, posture and mobility work, and strengthening for the neck and shoulder blades or the core and hips.
- Chiropractic care: a pinched nerve chiropractor uses mobilization, careful adjustments where appropriate and soft-tissue work to ease stiffness around the nerve.
- Spinal decompression: for disc-related cases, cervical or lumbar traction on a DTS table may reduce pressure on the nerve root for some people.
- Physiatry and pain management: for severe pain, weakness or stalled progress, a physician reviews your case and coordinates referrals, such as to a spine surgeon.
Results vary, and your plan changes as your symptoms do.
Self-care while the nerve settles
- Limit positions that trigger symptoms, such as looking down at a phone or sitting slumped for long periods
- Keep moving gently, since total rest tends to add stiffness
- Choose a pillow height that keeps your neck level when you lie on your side
- Don’t push through numbness or weakness that’s getting worse
Frequently asked questions
How long does a pinched nerve take to heal?
Many pinched nerves settle within a few weeks, and most improve within a few months without surgery. Recovery can take longer if a nerve has been compressed for a long time or if there is weakness. Feeling and strength often return more slowly than pain fades, so some numbness may linger after the sharp pain eases.
Is a chiropractor a good choice for a pinched nerve?
A chiropractor can help some people with a pinched nerve, especially when stiff joints and tight muscles add to the pressure. Techniques are chosen to avoid increasing arm or leg symptoms. At PMR, chiropractic care is often combined with physical therapy, and a physician gets involved if you have significant weakness.
Is it a pinched nerve in my neck or carpal tunnel?
Both can cause hand numbness. A pinched nerve in the neck often comes with neck or shoulder blade pain and symptoms that change with neck movement. Carpal tunnel syndrome tends to affect the thumb, index and middle fingers and is often worse at night or with gripping. Sometimes both are present, and an exam plus EMG testing can tell them apart.
Can a pinched nerve cause lasting damage?
It can if a nerve stays badly compressed, so worsening weakness or numbness needs prompt attention. Most pinched nerves recover with conservative care. During pinched nerve treatment, your provider rechecks strength, reflexes and sensation and refers you quickly for testing or a specialist opinion if the nerve isn’t responding.
Book a nerve evaluation
Call the office nearest you or schedule online to begin pinched nerve treatment:
- Danbury, CT, (203) 744-8013
- Brewster, NY, (845) 279-1135
You can also explore the other conditions we treat.