A nerve can be pinched as it leaves the spine by a herniated disc or bone spurs that form from spinal arthritis. Another common place for pinched nerves is the carpal tunnel. This is a bottleneck area, through which all the finger flexor tendons and the median nerve must pass to the hand. Regardless of where the nerve is pinched, in the neck or carpal tunnel, the patient often will feel similar symptoms of numbness in the hand, because the brain does not know how to tell the difference between the beginning, middle, or end of a nerve. It only knows that it is not receiving signals from the hand, and so numbness begins.

Symptoms of a Pinched Nerve

A pinched nerve in the low back usually is perceived as radiating down the leg. Here again, the symptoms the person experiences seem to be traveling into the leg along the usual path. This is the basis of referred pain.

Muscle spasm in the back commonly accompanies pinched nerves and can be quite painful.

Sometimes, nerves can be pinched and the only symptoms may be numbness and weakness in the arm or leg without pain. Other symptoms include tingling, burning, electric, and a hot/cold sensation.