What Is a Compressed Nerve?
A compressed nerve occurs when a nerve receives pressure or becomes pinched by the bone, cartilage or muscles that are around the nerve. It may also be referred to as a “pinched nerve.” Compressed nerves have multiple symptoms, causes and treatments. Avoiding common risk factors may aid in preventing a compressed nerve. Compressed nerves cause a wide range of symptoms depending on where they are located in the body. In some cases, a compressed nerve can be very painful, while other times it may only cause numbness and tingling. There is typically more pain when a major nerve becomes compressed, such as the sciatic nerves.
