When you suffer from a pinched nerve, surrounding tissues are placing too much pressure on the particular nerve. A person can get a pinched nerve on any part of the body. Tissues that cause a pinched nerve include bones, muscles and tendons. Since a pinched nerve's very painful, you'll want to receive a quick diagnosis in order to start treatment.
Instructions
1. Note the pain. Most people won't experience any other symptoms from a pinched nerve besides pain. You may have a burning sensation or the pain may feel sharp and localized to the affected area.
2. Consider sensations felt at the area. If you have a pinched nerve, you may feel a numbness or decreased sense of feeling at a certain point on your body.
3. Review your risk factors. When you have poor posture or a medical condition, like arthritis, you're more likely to get a pinched nerve. Injuries and obesity can also cause a build up of pressure on a nerve.
4. Make an appointment with your doctor. Let him know your symptoms and how long the pain has lasted.
5. Undergo any testing to confirm the diagnosis of a pinched nerve. Your doctor may run a nerve conduction exam or electromyography to find out if you have a pinched nerve. During these tests, your doctor uses electrodes to measure the amount of electrical activity at the nerve site to determine whether or not you have a pinched nerve.
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