Back pain caused by a pinched nerve can be mistaken for muscle strains or poor posture, but it is often sharp and can radiate down the back or legs. Sciatica is a common cause, and regular stretching and exercise can help. Other causes include herniated discs and direct trauma, which can be treated with medication and exercise.
Back pain caused by a pinched nerve can sometimes feel like normal back pain caused by muscle strains or poor posture, but more often it will be a sharp pain that can radiate down the back or even up the legs, depending on which nerve is plucked. In severe cases, the pinched nerve can cause weakness or numbness in the back and legs. Other types of back pain that result from a muscle problem generally don’t cause such symptoms, and pain from a pinched nerve can be indicative of a much more serious problem.
Sciatica is one of the most common causes of back pain caused by a pinched nerve. The sciatic nerve starts in the lower back and runs through the buttocks and all the way down the back of each leg. If the muscles in your back or hips tighten, they may be compressing the sciatic nerve endings, causing sharp, shooting pain down the back of your leg, in your hips, buttocks, or lower back. Such pain may be accompanied by numbness, tightness, or throbbing pain, and the muscles in the back and legs may also become weak. Regular stretching and exercise is usually enough to counteract the symptoms of sciatica, although surgery may be required in severe cases.
Back pain from a pinched nerve can also occur in other parts of the back, and these nerves will affect the parts of the body served by that particular nerve. A pinched nerve can be accompanied by a stiff neck, numbness in the arms, or shooting pain throughout the back. Such pain is often caused by a herniated disc in the spine. This occurs when the gel-like fluid between the vertebrae breaks down and presses against the nerves that run through each vertebra. Such injuries often heal on their own with regular stretching and exercise, but in some more severe cases, surgery may be needed as a last resort. Anti-inflammatory drugs can also relieve pain and allow the injury to heal.
Other causes of a pinched nerve in the back include direct trauma, spinal compression, sitting or standing for long periods of time, and overuse of muscles during physical activity. Pain from pinched nerves caused by these activities can usually be resolved with stretching, exercise, and medication.
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