People often believe, when suffering from pain felt in the neck or lower back, that the cause for that feeling must be what they call a "pinched nerve". But we have to consider that in many cases the individual impression doesn´t necessarily correspond to a medical diagnosis. A pinched nerve can be a real physical fact because there is a direct pressure on a nerve, f.e. the sciatic nerve from a herniated disc. Generally spoken, a single nerve or a bunch of nerve fibers are damaged or hurt. Patients's ability to experience usual sensations decrease in this case. The so affected speak about numbness, radiating pain, burning pain, "pins and needles" and so on. Though a real pinched nerve may be the cause, many other explanations often appear to be more proper for describing the problem. As even one saying goes: talking about a pinched nerve is nothing but talking about a myth. But don't take that for granted.

So it´s anyway helpful to read about the different symptoms, indications and circumstances of nerve irritation a specialist has to work with. This includes the task to arrange with the several options orthopedic or other medical treatments offer and exclude when working for the desired relief - assuming an individual diagnosis has been formulated.

On back-pain-info.com and our partner sites you will find complex information in a nutshell, which may enlarge your knowledge about orthopaedic alternatives.

Pain in the neck, the back and lower back along the spinal chord may have very specific causes. To get some sensitivity for this differentiation - beyond the above cited "pinched nerve" - and to gain some insight into the forms of back pain and methods used in our practice-clinic (for the patient's relief), please follow the recommended links on the next page

pinched nerve ? reflections on symptoms, causes, relief