What does a pinched nerve feel like — and when does it need a nerve test?

What does a pinched nerve feel like?

A pinched or trapped nerve is a nerve under pressure, either from surrounding tissue, a narrow passage it runs through, or a disc or joint in the spine. Pressure disturbs the nerve's signals, and the brain interprets that disturbance as odd sensations in the area the nerve supplies, which may be some distance from where it is actually squeezed.

The feelings vary from person to person, but certain descriptions come up again and again. Symptoms are often worse in particular positions, at night, or after repetitive use, and may ease when you move or shake the limb.

Neck, elbow or wrist: telling them apart

Where you feel the symptoms gives clues about where the nerve is being pinched, but the patterns overlap, and that is where testing helps.

A trapped nerve in the neck (cervical radiculopathy) often causes neck or shoulder pain with symptoms running down the arm, and may change when you turn or tilt your head. Pressure on the ulnar nerve at the elbow (cubital tunnel) tends to affect the little finger and half of the ring finger and is often worse with the elbow bent. Pressure on the median nerve at the wrist (carpal tunnel) usually affects the thumb, index and middle fingers, and commonly wakes people at night.

Some people have more than one site involved at the same time, for example a neck problem and carpal tunnel together. Symptoms can also come from a more widespread nerve condition rather than a single pinch point.

How long does a pinched nerve last?

Many pinched nerves, particularly in the neck after a strain or an awkward night, ease over a few days to several weeks as inflammation settles. Others, especially those caused by a nerve running through a tight space at the wrist or elbow, tend to come and go and may slowly become more persistent.

How long a pinched nerve takes to heal depends on how long and how hard it has been squeezed. Short-lived pressure usually only disturbs the nerve's coating and recovers well. Long-standing or severe pressure can damage the nerve fibres themselves, and recovery then takes longer and may be incomplete. That is why persistent symptoms are worth assessing rather than waiting indefinitely.

Simple measures that often help

For mild, recent symptoms, simple steps are often enough. These are general suggestions; your GP or physiotherapist can advise on what suits you.

If symptoms are not improving after a few weeks of these measures, or they are getting steadily worse, that is a sign to have them looked at rather than carry on waiting.

When a nerve conduction study helps

A nerve conduction study and EMG measure how well the nerves are working. They can show whether a nerve is slowed at the wrist, the elbow or elsewhere, whether the problem seems to come from the spine, and how severe it is. That helps decide whether simple measures are reasonable or whether treatment should be discussed sooner.

Testing is worth considering if symptoms last more than a few weeks, keep returning, disturb your sleep, or come with weakness or wasting of the hand muscles. It is also helpful when it is unclear whether the problem is in the neck, elbow or wrist, or when symptoms affect both sides.

Getting seen, and urgent warning signs

NHS waits for nerve conduction studies can often be months. A private test can be booked directly, without a GP referral, and includes a consultation with Dr Arvin Rodrigues at Bridge House Clinic, Rossett, near Chester and Wrexham.

This article is general information and not a diagnosis. See your GP or call NHS 111 if symptoms are getting worse. Get urgent medical help for numbness around the genitals or buttocks, new problems controlling your bladder or bowel, or rapidly increasing weakness in both legs. Call 999 for sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm or leg, or slurred speech, which may signal a stroke.

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