Besides the dieting required to shimmy into them, skinny jeans pose another health risk. If they are worn too tight, these jeans can cause a nerve disorder called Meralgia Paresthetica. This occurs when one of the nerves that runs in the outer part of a thigh gets compressed. In this case, the remedy is simple: stop wearing skinny jeans. But the cure is more complicated for the 13 million Americans go to the doctor annually for chronic back pain which is often be the result of a pinched nerve.
“A pinched nerve is compression on one of the delicate spinal nerves that branch off the spinal cord and travel to other parts of the body,” says Kaixuan Liu, M.D., Ph.D., spine surgeon and founder of Atlantic Spine Center in Edison, New Jersey. “Symptoms can include local or radiating pain, numbness, tingling and muscle weakness.” These may worsen while sleeping and be felt far from the point of pressure; for instance, a pinched nerve in the lower back may produce symptoms in the calf. With a pinched nerve in the neck, pain is often described as sharp and may radiate into the shoulder and arm.
How is a pinched nerve treated today? Initial treatment may include rest, massage, hot/cold therapy, mild exercise, anti-inflammatory or prescription medications, and electrical stimulation. If this treatment is not effective, your physician may prescribe corticosteroid injections. Other options include soft collars, physical therapy, anti-inflammatories or oral steroids.
If it doesn’t improve after several weeks to a few months, surgery may be necessary to relieve the pressure and to give the pinched nerve more room to function. The type of surgery varies depending on the location of the pinched nerve and the condition causing it. A pinched nerve in the back may require removing bone spurs that are putting pressure on the nerve or trimming the offending portion of the bulging disc of a herniated disc. “Surgery can be done as an open procedure where the surgeon cuts open the skin and muscles to gain access to the spine,” says Dr. Liu. “Or it can be performed using an endoscope, which is minimally invasive and has a lower complication rate. During an endoscopic procedure, there is no need to cut or tear the muscles because a small incision is made to insert special surgical tools.”
What causes a pinched nerve? A pinched nerve in the back is often caused by a herniated disc, the formation of bone spurs with osteoarthritis, and inflamed tissue, all of which can impinge on the spinal canal and press on a nerve root or the spinal cord. As a result, it cannot properly transmit electrical signals to its peripheral nerves, causing pain, tingling and numbness in the area where the nerve root leads. Similarly, a pinched nerve in the neck can be attributed to overuse, strain, extra body weight, scar tissue, cysts, tumors, poor posture, or osteoarthritis.
How is a pinched nerve diagnosed? Tests include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or nerve conduction study, where patch-style electrodes are placed on the skin to stimulate the nerve with a mild electrical impulse. Another test is electromyography, which measures the electrical discharges produced in muscles.
How can I prevent a pinched nerve? There are several ways to prevent a pinched nerve in the back, including maintaining good posture, incorporating strength and flexibility exercises, and keeping a healthy weight. People should also limit repetitive activities and take frequent breaks when engaging in these activities.