Pinched Nerve Treatment in Chattanooga

What Is a Pinched Nerve?

A pinched nerve occurs when surrounding tissues place excessive pressure on a nerve. This pressure interferes with the nerve’s ability to send normal signals, resulting in pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or changes in sensation.

A pinched nerve can occur anywhere along the spine but most commonly affects the neck (cervical spine) or lower back (lumbar spine).

Many patients use the term “pinched nerve” to describe their symptoms, but the underlying cause may be one of several spine conditions.

What Causes a Pinched Nerve?

Several conditions can compress or irritate spinal nerves, including:

• Herniated discs
• Degenerative disc disease
• Bone spurs
• Arthritis of the spine
• Thickened ligaments
• Spinal stenosis
• Sports injuries
• Age-related wear and tear

Determining the cause of nerve compression is essential because treatment varies depending on the underlying condition.

What Are the Symptoms of a Pinched Nerve?

Symptoms depend on which nerve is affected but commonly include:

• Sharp or burning pain
• Tingling (“pins and needles”)
• Numbness
• Muscle weakness
• Pain that radiates into an arm or leg
• Difficulty gripping objects
• Difficulty walking

Symptoms often worsen with prolonged sitting, standing, or certain movements.

Pinched Nerve vs. Herniated Disc: What’s the Difference?

These terms are often confused, but they are not the same.

A pinched nerve describes what happens when a nerve becomes compressed.

A herniated disc is one possible cause of that compression.

Think of it this way:

• Herniated disc = the cause
• Pinched nerve = the result

Other conditions—including arthritis, bone spurs, and degenerative disc disease—can also cause pinched nerves.

How Does Center for Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics Treat a Pinched Nerve?

Treatment depends on the location and severity of nerve compression.

Your personalized care plan may include:

• Evaluation by one of our Spine Specialists
• Advanced diagnostic imaging
• Spine-focused physical therapy
• Activity modification
• Medication recommendations
• Interventional pain management
• Image-guided spinal injections
• Consultation with a Spine Surgeon if conservative treatment is unsuccessful

Our goal is to begin with the least invasive treatment possible while helping you recover safely.

Can a Pinched Nerve Heal Without Surgery?

Yes.

Many pinched nerves improve with conservative treatment over several weeks.

Physical therapy, medication, posture improvements, activity modification, and spinal injections often provide significant relief.

However, severe weakness, worsening symptoms, or ongoing nerve compression may require surgery to prevent permanent nerve damage.