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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffPinched nerve signs and symptoms include:
- Numbness or decreased sensation in the area supplied by the nerve.
- Sharp or burning pain, which may radiate outward. When the pinched nerve comes from the spinal cord, coughing or sneezing may aggravate the pain.
- Tingling, "pins and needles" sensations (paresthesia).
- Muscle weakness or twitching in the affected area.
- Frequent feeling that a foot or hand has "fallen asleep."
The problems related to a pinched nerve may be worse when you're sleeping.
When to see a doctor
See your doctor if the signs and symptoms of a pinched nerve last for several days and don't respond to self-care measures, such as rest and over-the-counter pain relievers.
- NINDS pinched nerve information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/pinchednerve/pinchednerve.htm. Oct. 21, 2008.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/carpal_tunnel/detail_carpal_tunnel.htm. Nov. 6, 2008.
- Tsai P, et al. Median and radial nerve compression about the elbow. The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. 2008;90:420.
- Spinner RJ. Outcomes for peripheral nerve entrapment syndromes. Clinical Neurosurgery. 2006;53:285.
- Swanson JW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 11, 2008.
