What a Spinal Pinched Nerve Diagnosis Means For You

Receiving a spinal pinched nerve diagnosis can mean many different things for you, but the single most important thing that this means is that there is likely an underlying condition present, and it is that condition that is pinching the nerve. Nerves in the spine do not simply pinch themselves, but instead they are caused by specific conditions. When explaining your pinched nerve condition to you, your doctor will also identify, if at all possible, the spinal abnormality responsible, and explain to you exactly how and why this condition caused a pinched nerve.

The Way Nerves Become Pinched

During your spinal pinched nerve diagnosis, your doctor will describe to you the different ways nerves become pinched. The spinal cord and various nerve roots branching away from the spinal cord are protected and separated from the adjacent spinal anatomy by a narrow canal. This canal is essentially an area filled with fluids and soft tissues, and it provides a buffer zone for the spinal cord and nerve roots from the other components of the spinal anatomy, including vertebrae and intervertebral discs. Spinal abnormalities, such as bulging discs, bone spurs, and spondylolisthesis (vertebral slippage), typically entail a displacement, rupturing, or growth of bone or disc material. These anatomical anomalies can constrict the spinal canal (spinal stenosis), which in turn can pinch, or impinge, the spinal cord or nearby nerve roots. Once your doctor determines that your symptoms are consistent with a pinched nerve in the spine, he or she will investigate what is constricting the nerve - be it a herniated disc, bone spur, or calcified ligament - and then a treatment plan can be formulated.

Treatment after the Diagnosis

When your doctor gives you your spinal pinched nerve diagnosis, he or she will also formulate a treatment plan for you to follow. The components of the plan will likely include treatments such as cryotherapy/thermotherapy, bed rest, physical therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and epidural steroid injections. None of the aforementioned are strategically aimed at treating the underlying cause of the pinched nerve. Instead, these treatment methods are an attempt to alleviate the symptoms by reducing inflammation and pressure around the nerve or by masking the symptoms. There are instances in which pinched nerves can be serious, even life-threatening, issues, but in most cases, the symptoms of a pinched nerve can usually be managed and treated through simple, conservative treatments.