What's actually happening with a pinched nerve
A pinched nerve happens when surrounding tissue — bone, disc, muscle, or cartilage — puts pressure on a nerve, disrupting its normal function.
It can happen almost anywhere: the neck, low back, wrist, or elbow are common spots. The sharp, burning, or electric sensation you feel is often further from the actual compression than you'd expect, which is why chasing the sensation itself rarely works — we trace it back to where the pressure is actually happening.
Signs you might be dealing with it
- Sharp, burning, or "electric" pain in a specific spot
- Numbness or tingling that follows a clear path down an arm or leg
- Weakness in the muscles the nerve controls
- Symptoms that change with position — better or worse depending on how you're sitting or sleeping
- A sensation that comes and goes rather than staying constant
Relieve, rehab, strengthen — applied to a pinched nerve
Assess
We trace the nerve's path to find exactly where it's being compressed, not just where the sensation shows up.
Relieve
Adjustments and soft tissue work to reduce the pressure and calm the irritation around the nerve.
Rebuild
Rehab and strength work to correct the postural or mechanical pattern that let the compression happen.
What relief actually looks like
"Dr. Li is magnificent. Kind, smart, gentle. She diagnosed my problem correctly before the x-ray came in, and is teaching me how to take care of myself."
Pinched nerve, answered
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What's the difference between a pinched nerve and sciatica?
Sciatica is actually a specific type of pinched nerve — compression of the sciatic nerve in the low back that radiates down the leg. "Pinched nerve" is the broader term and can happen at the neck, low back, or anywhere a nerve passes through tight or restricted tissue.
How do you find where the nerve is actually compressed?
A hands-on exam that traces the sensation back along the nerve's path, combined with testing strength, reflexes, and range of motion at each likely spot.
Can a pinched nerve get better without surgery?
In most cases, yes — reducing the mechanical pressure and correcting the pattern that caused it resolves the large majority of pinched nerves without surgical intervention.
When should I be concerned about a pinched nerve?
Significant or progressive weakness, or numbness that's spreading, are signs to get assessed promptly — we'll refer you out if anything needs imaging or a specialist.