Pinched Nerve Definition
A pinched nerve is a condition when the nerve receives excess pressure from the surrounding tissue. The tissue can be muscle, tendon, bone, or cartilage tissue. Because nerves travel throughout the body, pinched nerves can also occur at various locations in the body. A pinched nerve or HNP ( hernia nucleus pulposus ) is a condition when the inter-vertebral discs, which are soft and like jelly, protrude so that they suppress the surrounding nerves. When a pinched nerve is experienced, the body will send a "signal" in the form of pain. If this happens, you should not underestimate it, before nerve damage becomes a complication.
Causes of Pinched Nerves
There are several factors that can cause a pinched nerve or HNP, including:
- Age factor. As you get older, the vertebral discs (connections between the bones) become less flexible and tear easily.
- genetic factor.
- Injury to the spine.
- Often do activities that burden the spine, for example lifting heavy weights.
- Excess weight. This causes the spinal burden to increase.
- And others
Pinched Nerve Symptoms
The characteristics of a pinched nerve can vary, depending on the position and size of the herniation. In general, the most common symptom of HNP is pain. Mild HNP cases often do not cause symptoms, but symptoms of severe pain can also appear. Some of the most common symptoms of a pinched nerve include:
- Painful
As mentioned earlier, one of the common symptoms of a pinched nerve is pain. Complaints of this pain usually appear at the location of the occurrence of HNP. For example, if a pinched nerve occurs in the spine or lower back, symptoms of back pain will appear. Likewise, if HNP occurs in the neck, the symptoms that appear can be pain in the neck.
- The feeling of being pricked by needles to a burning sensation
Some people with pinched nerves describe pain that appears as stabbing or burning pain.
- Spread of Pain
Complaints of pain that feels sharp and disturbing are also accompanied by spreading. Usually, a pinched nerve in the back causes pain to spread to the buttocks to the thighs, calves and feet. Meanwhile, if a pinched nerve occurs in the neck area it can cause pain to radiate to the shoulder or arm.
- pins and needles
Apart from pain, people with a pinched nerve can also complain of tingling in the affected body part.
- Reduced sensation or numbness in the affected area
Not only does it cause tingling, due to a pinched nerve, complaints of lack of sensation and numbness in the affected part can also appear. These complaints are generally quite disturbing because they make the sufferer uncomfortable.
- Weakness
The muscles in the pinched nerve will usually weaken. As a result, HNP sufferers will find it increasingly difficult to lift weights, move, or even hold.
If you experience one or more of these symptoms, you should be able to consult an Orthopedic Spine Consultant (Spine).
Pinched Nerve Diagnosis
Pinched nerves or HNP can be detected through medical consultation and physical examination (reflexes, muscle strength (motor), ability to walk, and sensory function, and so on). In hospital EMC Tangerang pinched nerves were immediately handled by experts, namely dr. Harmantya Mahadhipta Sp. OT (K) Spine. And to support the diagnosis, the doctor can suggest radiological examination options, which are in accordance with the patient's medical indications including:
- X-ray
- CT Scan
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), and others.
Pinched Nerve Treatment
After knowing the symptoms, causes and diagnosis of a pinched nerve, we must be wise in choosing the treatment to be carried out. Treatment for a pinched nerve depends on the patient's own condition, namely how much pain appears and the severity of the HNP. The length of treatment for a pinched nerve can also be different for each person. In general, treatment and therapy for a pinched nerve is divided into several parts, such as:
1. Drugs
The following are drug options that can be consumed by people with a pinched nerve:
- Painkillers If the degree of pain is still mild, you can buy over-the-counter painkillers.
- Nerve Pain Reliever This drug is the second drug that is routinely given to people with pinched nerves after painkillers.
- Muscle Relaxant or Muscle Relaxant This drug is given to reduce muscle tension or stiffness.
- Epidural Steroid Injections Epidural steroid injections help reduce complaints of pain due to HNP.
2. Physiotherapy
Several types of pinched nerve therapy that can be done, namely:
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) Using electrical energy to stimulate the nervous system through the skin surface to relieve pain.
- Traction Using objects with a certain weight to deal with damage or disorders of the bones and muscles.
- Use of a Corset or Brace
3. Operation
We need to know that 80-85% of HNP cases can be treated without surgery, but 15-20% of them need surgery. The development of medical technology in almost all lines is currently leading to minimally invasive techniques .
Today's society does not need to worry about the risks of pinched nerve surgery because the hospital. Currently, EMC Tangerang, as a center for pinched nerve treatment services, continues to develop minimally invasive, minimal impact techniques which have advantages including:
- Relatively safer
- More effective
- Faster recovery
All surgical techniques for handling pinched nerves can be done at the hospital. EMC Tangerang is handled directly by the expert Dr. Harmantya Mahadhipta Sp.OT (K) Spine and is supported by sophisticated medical support equipment and professional medical personnel.
Several types of spinal and/or pinched nerve surgery that can be performed at EMC Tangerang Hospital are:
Endoscopic spine surgery:
- PECD (Percutaneous Endoscopic Cervical Discectomy)
- PELD (Percutaneous Endoscopy Lumbar Decompression)
- PSLD (Percutaneous Stenoscopy Lumbar Decompression)
- PETD (Percutaneous Endoscopic Thoracic Discectomy)
- BESS – TLIF (Biportal Endoscopic Spinal Surgery Transforaminal Interbody Fusion)
- ENDO – TLIF (Endoscopic Posterolateral Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
- Endoscopic Rhizotomy
- Endoscopic Debridement for Spinal Infections
- Scoliosis Correction Surgery
- ACDF (Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion)
- ACCF Anterior Cervical Corpectomy and Fusion)
- MISS TLIF (Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion)
- PLIF (Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion)
- ALIF (Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion)
- PLDD (Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression)
- Kyphoplasty
- Vertebroplasty
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
- Facet Joint Injection
- Sacroiliac (SI) joint injections
- And others