A pinched nerve can cause sharp pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and burning sensations that interfere with your daily activities. Whether the pain begins in your neck, back, shoulder, or leg, nerve compression can make simple movements uncomfortable and significantly impact your quality of life.
At TOPS Institute, our board-certified pain management specialists provide comprehensive evaluations and personalized treatment plans for patients experiencing pinched nerves, nerve compression, and radiating arm or leg pain. Using advanced diagnostics and minimally invasive, image-guided procedures, we focus on relieving pressure on irritated nerves, reducing inflammation, and restoring function whenever possible without surgery.
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What Is a Pinched Nerve?
A pinched nerve occurs when surrounding structures such as a herniated disc, bone spur, inflamed joint, or thickened ligament place excessive pressure on a nerve. This pressure can interfere with normal nerve function, leading to pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or altered sensation.
Pinched nerves can develop anywhere in the body but most commonly affect the:
- Cervical spine (neck)
- Thoracic spine (mid-back)
- Lumbar spine (lower back)
Depending on the location of the compressed nerve, symptoms may radiate into the shoulders, arms, hands, buttocks, hips, or legs.
Common Causes of a Pinched Nerve
Several conditions may contribute to nerve compression, including:
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spinal stenosis
- Arthritis of the spine
- Bone spurs
- Facet joint degeneration
- Sports injuries
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Poor posture
- Trauma from motor vehicle accidents
- Thickened spinal ligaments
- Age-related spinal changes
Proper diagnosis is essential because treatment varies depending on the underlying cause and location of the compressed nerve.
Symptoms of a Pinched Nerve
Symptoms may include:
- Sharp or shooting pain
- Burning pain
- Tingling (“pins and needles”)
- Numbness
- Muscle weakness
- Pain that radiates into an arm or leg
- Neck pain with arm symptoms
- Low back pain with leg pain (sciatica)
- Difficulty standing, walking, or lifting objects
- Reduced grip strength
- Pain that worsens with certain movements
If you experience sudden loss of bowel or bladder control, rapidly progressing weakness, or severe numbness, seek emergency medical care immediately.
Conditions That Can Cause Nerve Compression
Our specialists commonly evaluate and treat pinched nerves associated with:
- Cervical radiculopathy
- Lumbar radiculopathy
- Sciatica
- Herniated discs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Cervical spinal stenosis
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Foraminal stenosis
- Post-surgical nerve irritation
- Arthritis affecting the spine
Comprehensive Evaluation
Every treatment plan begins with a thorough evaluation to identify the source of your symptoms.
Your consultation may include:
- Comprehensive medical history
- Physical examination
- Neurological assessment
- Review of MRI, CT, or X-ray imaging
- Review of previous treatments
- Medication evaluation
- Functional assessment
By identifying the exact location of nerve compression, we can recommend the most appropriate treatment for your condition.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options for a Pinched Nerve
At TOPS Institute, we emphasize conservative and minimally invasive treatments whenever appropriate.
Treatment options may include:
Physical Therapy Coordination
Strengthening, stretching, posture correction, and movement training may help reduce pressure on affected nerves and improve mobility.
Medication Management
Certain medications may help decrease inflammation or reduce nerve-related pain as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Image-Guided Injections
Targeted injections can help reduce inflammation around irritated nerves while improving comfort and function.
Activity Modification
Temporary adjustments to daily activities may help reduce irritation while the affected nerve heals.
Epidural Steroid Injections for Pinched Nerves
For many patients with a pinched nerve caused by a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or nerve root inflammation, an epidural steroid injection may provide significant pain relief.
Using fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance, medication is precisely delivered into the epidural space surrounding the irritated spinal nerve. The anti-inflammatory medication helps reduce swelling around the nerve, which may relieve pain, numbness, and tingling while improving mobility.
Depending on the location of your nerve compression, your physician may recommend one of the following procedures:
Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
Often recommended for pinched nerves in the neck causing pain, numbness, or weakness that radiates into the shoulder, arm, or hand.
Learn More About Cervical Epidural Steroid Injections →
Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injection
May be appropriate for certain patients experiencing nerve-related pain originating in the mid-back or chest region.
Learn More About Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injections →
Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection
Commonly used for lower back pain, sciatica, lumbar disc herniation, spinal stenosis, and leg pain caused by irritated spinal nerves.
Learn More About Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections →
Your physician will determine whether an epidural injection is appropriate based on your diagnosis, symptoms, imaging findings, and overall health.
Why Choose TOPS Institute?
Patients throughout Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and Southern California trust TOPS Institute for advanced pinched nerve treatment because we provide:
- Board-certified pain management specialists
- Personalized treatment plans
- Advanced diagnostic evaluations
- Fluoroscopy-guided procedures for precision
- Minimally invasive, non-surgical treatments
- Concierge-level patient care
- Comprehensive follow-up and treatment coordination
- A focus on restoring function while minimizing reliance on long-term opioid medications
Our goal is to help relieve nerve compression, reduce pain, and get you back to the activities you enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes a pinched nerve?
A pinched nerve develops when surrounding tissues, such as a herniated disc, bone spur, inflamed joint, or thickened ligament, place pressure on a nerve. This pressure can disrupt normal nerve function and cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness.
Can a pinched nerve heal without surgery?
Yes. Many patients improve with conservative care, physical therapy, medications, activity modification, or minimally invasive interventional pain management procedures. Surgery is typically considered only when symptoms are severe, progressive, or fail to improve with non-surgical treatment.
Are epidural steroid injections effective for pinched nerves?
For appropriately selected patients, epidural steroid injections may reduce inflammation around an irritated spinal nerve and provide meaningful pain relief. Results vary depending on the underlying condition and individual response to treatment.
How long does recovery take?
Recovery depends on the cause and severity of the nerve compression. Some patients improve within weeks, while others may require ongoing treatment or rehabilitation to achieve lasting relief.
When should I see a pain management specialist?
You should consider an evaluation if your pain lasts several weeks, radiates into your arms or legs, is associated with numbness or weakness, interferes with daily activities, or has not improved with conservative treatment.
Schedule Your Pinched Nerve Evaluation
Living with a pinched nerve doesn’t have to limit your mobility or quality of life. At TOPS Institute, our specialists provide advanced, personalized care for patients experiencing nerve compression, radiating pain, sciatica, and spinal conditions.
If you’re experiencing persistent numbness, tingling, weakness, or shooting pain, our team can help identify the source of your symptoms and recommend the most appropriate treatment options.
Call 310-694-9494 or request an appointment online to schedule your consultation. We proudly serve patients throughout Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and Southern California with expert interventional pain management and concierge-level care.