Pinched Nerve Treatment
Updated: May 5, 2022
Pinched Nerve
Pinched nerves are a frustrating injury to suffer and they can last a long time. They can cause a wide range of symptoms and limit many activities. I want to review what a pinched nerve actually is, what causes it, possible symptoms, and how you can treat pinched nerves including some exercise suggestions.
There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves and they can combine to form other nerves including your sciatic nerve and your medial nerve among others. Nerves originate from your brain where all senses and actions are interpreted. Sensory nerves run from your skin to your spinal cord up to your brain for understanding of what your body is feeling. Motor nerves run from your brain, down your spinal cord, and into your muscles to control movement and actions. Nerves work extremely quickly. Healthy nerves send signals 50-60 meters per second according to healthline.com. Considering 2 meters is 6 feet 6 inches, 60 meters per second would go up and down a tall human 30 times in a single second!
Because of how precise and important nerves are, it makes sense that our body would want to protect them. Pinching or compression of nerves can have many consequences throughout the entire length of the nerve. For instance, if a nerve is compressed exiting the low lumbar spine then it can result in symptoms in your foot.