Symptoms of Pinched Nerve in Leg
Pinched nerve is a condition that occurs when too much pressure is applied on a nerve by the tissues surrounding it. It can occur anywhere in the body like back, shoulders, hands and legs. The damage or injury to the nerves in legs due to compression, constriction or stretching of the bones, cartilage, muscles or tissues surrounding them leads to pinched nerves. Most of the time, patients with pinched nerve recover from the condition within a few days or a period of some weeks. Only in extreme cases, one needs to undergo a surgery to relieve a pinched nerve.
Signs of a Pinched Nerve in Leg
Nerves help connect the brain with various other parts of the body. The nerves arising from the spinal cord or brain are called central nerves and nerves from the spine that travel to the arms or legs are called peripheral nerves. These nerves form nerve fibers that help make muscles move and give feelings to skin. When a never is pinched, that is, damaged or injured, it causes a block. This block reduces the flow of nutrients, and the nerve loses its ability to pass on electrical impulses. Eventually, the nerve may die causing numbness or inability to move muscles. Let us take a look at signs of pinched nerve in legs.
The leg tends to suffer from numbness, commonly called 'fallen asleep'. The numbness causes difficulty to move the leg or foot. Also, the leg becomes very heavy and difficult to control.
The most common of all the symptoms is pain. The pain may radiate in the region where the nerve is pinched. This means the pain may radiate from the knee towards the hip or down to the foot.
Another common sign of pinched nerve in leg is burning sensation. One may feel as if something is burning within their leg especially in the area where one experiences pain in leg.
Involuntary spasms and muscle twitching is one of the symptoms of pinched nerve in leg. The spasms may occur suddenly and may cause more damage to the nerves. These spasms are very discomforting, painful and cause distraction from work.
Pinched nerve can lead to a prickling or tingling sensation in the legs. These sensations are called paresthesia and can occur anywhere in the leg.
Muscle weakness is a pinched nerve symptom as the injury prevents nutrients and blood to reach the muscles. Standing or sitting for long time can cause pain and weakness.
One may suffer from decrease in mobility and find their speed of walking decrease considerably. This is because the pinched nerve causes pain, muscle weakness and spasms that affect the overall gait of the patient.
It has been observed that symptoms of pinched nerve worsen at night. This causes difficulty to fall asleep and one suffers from restlessness at night due to the pain and discomfort in legs.
Pinched Nerve in Leg: Treatment
Treatment of pinched nerve in leg generally, involves taking rest and lowering your activity level for a few days. The doctor may advice you with painkillers, anti-inflammatory medications, as a part of pinched nerve treatment. In severe cases, corticosteroid injections and physical therapy is needed. One needs to massage the legs, and try hot and cold therapy to relieve pain. Stretching and exercising also helps to some extent. If the pinched nerve in leg does not show any improvement after several weeks of treatment, surgery is advised. The surgery depends on the location of the nerve, making more room for the nerve that is being pressed between surrounding tissues.
If you feel constant pain, burning sensation and numbness in your leg, you should visit a doctor. It is important to get pinched nerves treated as it can flare up to a more painful condition. For more information and details, speak to your doctor or health care professional.
By Batul Nafisa Baxamusa
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/symptoms-of-pinched-nerve-in-leg.html
Pinched nerve is a condition that occurs when too much pressure is applied on a nerve by the tissues surrounding it. It can occur anywhere in the body like back, shoulders, hands and legs. The damage or injury to the nerves in legs due to compression, constriction or stretching of the bones, cartilage, muscles or tissues surrounding them leads to pinched nerves. Most of the time, patients with pinched nerve recover from the condition within a few days or a period of some weeks. Only in extreme cases, one needs to undergo a surgery to relieve a pinched nerve.
Signs of a Pinched Nerve in Leg
Nerves help connect the brain with various other parts of the body. The nerves arising from the spinal cord or brain are called central nerves and nerves from the spine that travel to the arms or legs are called peripheral nerves. These nerves form nerve fibers that help make muscles move and give feelings to skin. When a never is pinched, that is, damaged or injured, it causes a block. This block reduces the flow of nutrients, and the nerve loses its ability to pass on electrical impulses. Eventually, the nerve may die causing numbness or inability to move muscles. Let us take a look at signs of pinched nerve in legs.
The leg tends to suffer from numbness, commonly called 'fallen asleep'. The numbness causes difficulty to move the leg or foot. Also, the leg becomes very heavy and difficult to control.
The most common of all the symptoms is pain. The pain may radiate in the region where the nerve is pinched. This means the pain may radiate from the knee towards the hip or down to the foot.
Another common sign of pinched nerve in leg is burning sensation. One may feel as if something is burning within their leg especially in the area where one experiences pain in leg.
Involuntary spasms and muscle twitching is one of the symptoms of pinched nerve in leg. The spasms may occur suddenly and may cause more damage to the nerves. These spasms are very discomforting, painful and cause distraction from work.
Pinched nerve can lead to a prickling or tingling sensation in the legs. These sensations are called paresthesia and can occur anywhere in the leg.
Muscle weakness is a pinched nerve symptom as the injury prevents nutrients and blood to reach the muscles. Standing or sitting for long time can cause pain and weakness.
One may suffer from decrease in mobility and find their speed of walking decrease considerably. This is because the pinched nerve causes pain, muscle weakness and spasms that affect the overall gait of the patient.
It has been observed that symptoms of pinched nerve worsen at night. This causes difficulty to fall asleep and one suffers from restlessness at night due to the pain and discomfort in legs.
Pinched Nerve in Leg: Treatment
Treatment of pinched nerve in leg generally, involves taking rest and lowering your activity level for a few days. The doctor may advice you with painkillers, anti-inflammatory medications, as a part of pinched nerve treatment. In severe cases, corticosteroid injections and physical therapy is needed. One needs to massage the legs, and try hot and cold therapy to relieve pain. Stretching and exercising also helps to some extent. If the pinched nerve in leg does not show any improvement after several weeks of treatment, surgery is advised. The surgery depends on the location of the nerve, making more room for the nerve that is being pressed between surrounding tissues.
If you feel constant pain, burning sensation and numbness in your leg, you should visit a doctor. It is important to get pinched nerves treated as it can flare up to a more painful condition. For more information and details, speak to your doctor or health care professional.
By Batul Nafisa Baxamusa
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/symptoms-of-pinched-nerve-in-leg.html
Great article! I found much great info about symptoms of pinched nerve in leg. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.back and neck pain bergen county
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