When a nerve becomes pinched, it loses its ability to function normally, and while pain is usually the first indication something is wrong, the specific symptoms of a pinched nerve will depend on where the compression is and what underlying process is causing the compression.
The headings below explore what occurs when a pinched nerve’s normal functions become impacted, shedding light on the underlying processes that contribute to the painful symptoms you might be experiencing.
Reduced Blood Flow
When any nerve is compressed, or “pinched,” it often experiences a significant reduction in blood flow as the surrounding blood vessels can also be compressed. This leads to a reduction in the vital supply of oxygen and nutrients to the nerve and its surrounding tissues.
This decreased blood flow leads to the nerve not receiving the essential elements needed for normal functioning. As a result, the nerve can start misfiring, causing painful tingling and numbness sensations.
In severe cases, the misfiring nerve may struggle to send crucial messages for mobility and muscle contraction, causing pain during movement or a reduction in muscle strength and tone.
Inflammation
It is well known that inflammation can kickstart and sustain persistent nerve pain. When your body responds to inflammation, it releases certain chemicals (cytokines, chemokines, and lipid mediators), and these chemicals can activate your nerve’s pain receptors, making them more sensitive and causing sensations of pain and discomfort.
In cases of chronic inflammation over a long period of time, these changes can lead to persistent uncomfortable sensations, otherwise known as neuropathic pain.
Put simply, it is like your nerves are receiving mixed messages and are being activated by more stimuli than they would normally be receiving. This then results in long-lasting discomfort that we want to address so as to improve the quality of life of people struggling with neuropathic pain.
Interruption Of Nerve Signals
Another reason for painful symptoms caused by pinched nerves is the interruption of nerve signals. When a nerve becomes compressed, it messes with its normal responsibility for feeling things. This can cause symptoms right at the site of compression, or symptoms might appear somewhere else along the nerve’s communication pathway, like a ripple effect. This is associated with sharp, electrical pain referred to as neuralgia.
Many people understand this through sciatic nerve pain. The sciatic nerve becomes compressed in the lower back with some pain and numbness occurring here, but pain may also shoot down into the leg along the normal nerve pathway.
If a pinched nerve impacts its ability to control movement, it might make everyday activities tricky. For example, things like forming a tight fist can become difficult for individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome. The nerve’s compression acts as a blocker of the normal communication between your muscles and brain.
At NextPain Care, we recognize the many complexities of a pinched nerve, wherever it may arise. In the next section, we will discuss how the techniques we provide tackle chronic nerve pain to help improve the quality of your life.