Condition
Pinched nerve: causes, symptoms and treatment
A clinically reviewed guide to a pinched nerve — what causes it, how it feels, and how it settles.
Quick answer
A pinched nerve occurs when a nerve is compressed or irritated, often in the neck or lower back, causing pain, tingling or weakness along the nerve's path. Most cases settle within weeks with conservative care.
Key facts
- A pinched nerve in the spine is called radiculopathy.
- Symptoms follow the path of the affected nerve.
- Most cases improve with conservative care within a few weeks.
What is a pinched nerve?
A pinched nerve is a nerve that is compressed or irritated by surrounding tissue, such as a disc, bone or tight muscle.
When it happens at a spinal nerve root it is called radiculopathy. The irritation disrupts the nerve's signals, producing pain, altered sensation or weakness along the nerve's path.
What are the symptoms of a pinched nerve?
Typical symptoms are radiating pain, tingling, numbness or weakness that follow the affected nerve into an arm or leg.
- Sharp, burning or radiating pain
- Pins and needles or numbness
- Muscle weakness in the affected limb
- Symptoms that change with certain positions or movements
How is a pinched nerve treated?
Most pinched nerves are treated with manual therapy, nerve mobilisation, targeted exercise and posture changes to reduce the irritation.
Care aims to take pressure off the nerve and restore movement. Referral for imaging or specialist review is considered if there is significant or progressive weakness.
At Postura Wellness, care for a pinched nerve is built around OrthoRestore™ — our signature method that combines chiropractic and physiotherapy into one coordinated plan. Depending on your assessment, it can bring together chiropractic adjustments, dry needling, muscle manipulation, Active Release Technique, and targeted exercises, supported where helpful by technology such as shockwave therapy and bioelectric therapy. The aim is to relieve symptoms while addressing the underlying causes, with a plan tailored to you.
Get emergency medical attention for loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin or inner thighs, or sudden severe weakness in a leg. These can signal cauda equina syndrome, a rare but serious condition.
Get a clear plan for your radiculopathy
Book an assessment at either branch and get a tailored plan.
This page is for general information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified clinician about your individual condition.
Sources
- Back Pain — MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine
- Know Your Back — North American Spine Society
- Health Topics — NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
- Sciatica — MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
- Sciatica — NHS inform (Scotland)
- Bones, Joints and Muscles — MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine