Pinched Nerve

A pinched nerve can occur anywhere along your spine but often affects your lower back. Without prompt treatment at the Brain and Spine Center of South Florida in Delray Beach and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, a pinched nerve turns into a chronic pain condition for 10-25% of patients. The experienced neurosurgeons at the Brain and Spine Center of South Florida specialize in nonsurgical and surgical treatments, effectively easing your pain and restoring your mobility. To schedule an appointment, call the nearest office or book online today.

What is a pinched nerve?

Radiculopathy refers to a nerve root that gets pinched as it leaves (or returns to) the spinal cord. As the spinal nerves travel between your spinal cord and body, they go through small openings surrounded by bones. They can easily get pinched in these tight, bony spaces.

The nerves may get pinched following an injury or due to a spine condition, such as:

• Herniated discs
• Degenerative disc disease
• Spinal stenosis
• Facet joint osteoarthritis
• Thickened ligaments
• Bone spurs

Age-related degenerative changes typically cause these conditions.

What are the symptoms of a pinched nerve?

Radiculopathy causes pain at the site of the pinched nerve. You may also have pain or tingling that travels down your arms or legs, depending on whether the pinched nerve is in your neck or lower back.

A pinched nerve may also cause numbness and, if the nerve damage is severe, weakness in your hands and feet.

How is a pinched nerve treated?

Your provider at the Brain and Spine Center of South Florida thoroughly evaluates your spine and checks your muscle strength and reflexes. They may take an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan to view the structures and perform nerve conduction studies.

After diagnosing radiculopathy, your provider creates a personalized plan to ease your symptoms. Your treatment may include:

Nonsurgical treatment

Your treatment begins with medication, resting your spine, steroid injections, and starting physical therapy.

Spine surgery

If your pain persists despite nonsurgical treatments, you may be a good candidate for minimally invasive surgery to decompress the nerves.

The expert neurosurgeons at the Brain and Spine Center of South Florida have extensive experience performing several decompression procedures, including: 

• Laminectomy (remove the back side of the vertebra along with bone spurs)
• Laminotomy (like a laminectomy but removing less bone)
• Foraminotomy (enlarge the round opening where nerves leave the spinal cord)
• Laminoplasty (open the back of the vertebra and add a bone graft in the open space)
• Discectomy (remove part or all of a herniated disc)

You may need a spinal fusion after any of these procedures, depending on the amount of bone removed. If your surgeon removes the disc, they may fuse the two bones or preserve motion by inserting an artificial disc.

The neurosurgeons at the Brain and Spine Center of South Florida offer comprehensive care for radiculopathy. Call the nearest office or book online today.