Pinched Nerve (cont.)
Pinched nerve in the wrist or elbow
A pinched nerve in the wrist can be caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. This
condition is caused by compression of the median nerve as it passes through
confined tissues of the wrist. Cubital tunnel syndrome is a similar condition caused by compression of the ulnar nerve in
the elbow. Both of these conditions are more common in people with diabetes and
people who perform repetitive activities such as
a typist,
using a computer keyboard for long periods of time, or assembly line
workers.
Other causes of pinched nerve
Swelling around a nerve can be caused by an injury,
bruise, or other
conditions, including the swelling of the extremities that can occur with
pregnancy. An inherited
tendency, as manifested by a family history of a similar condition, can also
increase an individual's chance of developing a pinched nerve.
What are the symptoms of a pinched nerve?
The symptoms of a pinched nerve depend on what nerve is affected. Each nerve
is responsible for sending information to or from specific parts of the body.
The most common symptoms of a pinched nerve are:
- pain,
- numbness,
- tingling (pins
and needles), or
- weakness of the muscles along the path of the nerve.
A pinched nerve sensation may feel like, for example, the sensation when a part of your body has
"fallen asleep." A pinched nerve can cause
symptoms at the site of damage, or any location further down the path from the
affected nerve.
- A pinched nerve in the neck can cause
neck pain or stiffness, along with
symptoms down the arm.
- A pinched nerve in the lower back causes
back pain and
stiffness with symptoms down the leg. A doctor can often identify which nerve is
pinched in the neck or lower back based on what portion of the patient's arm
or leg is affected.
- A pinched nerve in the wrist from carpal tunnel syndrome
typically affects
the thumb, index, and middle fingers. It can also cause a weakness in the patient's grip
strength, and atrophy of the
muscle of the
palm near the thumb. A
pinched nerve in the elbow from cubital tunnel syndrome affects the
forearm, the ring
(fourth finger), and
the small fingers of the hand.
Next: How is a pinched nerve diagnosed? »