Pinched Nerve: What Causes It and How Do You Know You Have One?
A pinched nerve happens when surrounding tissue, such as bone, disc or swollen muscle, presses on a nerve. This causes pain, tingling or numbness that can radiate along the nerve's path. The symptoms often appear away from the actual compression point, which is why whole-body standing imaging can help locate where the pressure really starts.
Key takeaways
- A pinched nerve is caused by pressure from bone, disc, ligament or muscle tissue.
- Pain, tingling or weakness often show up away from where the nerve is actually compressed.
- Standard lying-down scans can miss alignment problems that only appear when you are standing and weight-bearing.
- EOS whole-body imaging captures your skeleton upright, showing how one area may be putting pressure on a nerve elsewhere.
- If you have sudden weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or severe numbness, seek urgent medical help first.
Most people describe a pinched nerve as a sharp, burning or shooting sensation. It might run down your arm, through your hip or along your leg. You may also feel numbness, pins and needles, or a dull ache that does not ease with rest.
The tricky part is that pain from a pinched nerve often shows up far from the spot where the nerve is being squeezed. A nerve compressed at the base of your spine can cause pain in your foot. One pinched in your neck can send tingling down to your fingertips. This is why imaging a single area sometimes misses the real source of the problem.
What are the symptoms of a pinched nerve?
The main symptoms are pain, tingling, numbness or muscle weakness in the area the affected nerve supplies. These can appear suddenly or build up over weeks.
Often described as a shooting sensation that travels along the nerve path, such as down the arm or leg.
A prickling feeling in the hands, fingers, feet or toes that may come and go.
Reduced feeling in a specific area. You may notice you cannot feel temperature changes or light touch.
Difficulty gripping, lifting or walking normally because the nerve is not sending signals properly.
When to seek urgent help. If you develop sudden weakness in a limb, loss of bladder or bowel control, or rapidly worsening numbness in both legs, contact your GP, call 111 or go to A&E. These symptoms need immediate medical attention and are not suitable for a routine imaging booking.
What causes a pinched nerve?
A pinched nerve is caused by pressure from the structures around it. This pressure can come from several sources, and more than one may contribute at the same time.
A spinal disc pushes outward and presses against a nearby nerve root.
Extra bone growth from wear and tear narrows the space a nerve passes through.
Inflamed or overworked muscles can swell and squeeze a nerve in a tight space.
An uneven pelvis or shifted spine changes the load on joints and nerves over time.
How is a pinched nerve different from a muscle strain?
A muscle strain tends to produce a localised ache that worsens when you use the affected muscle and improves with rest. A pinched nerve, by contrast, often sends pain, tingling or numbness along the nerve's path, sometimes far from the compression site. Muscle strains rarely cause numbness or weakness. If you are unsure which you are dealing with, the pattern of your symptoms is a good clue, but imaging can help confirm the answer.
Why does standing imaging matter for a pinched nerve?
Standing imaging matters because the alignment of your skeleton changes when you are upright and carrying your own weight. Lying down on a scanner table relaxes the muscles and allows the spine and pelvis to settle into a neutral position. This can hide the very alignment shift that is pressing on a nerve when you stand and walk.
Your body works as a connected chain from your feet to your head. A subtle tilt in the pelvis can change how the lumbar spine loads, which may narrow the space around a nerve root. A shifted curve in the mid back can push extra stress up into the neck. Pain often shows up away from its real cause because of this chain of compensation.
EOS imaging captures your entire skeleton in a single standing scan, from head to ankles, using about 90% less radiation than a standard X-ray, around ten times less. This full-length view lets a specialist see whether something in your alignment, such as a pelvic tilt, a shifted knee axis or a flattened spinal curve, is creating the conditions for nerve compression.
Wondering whether your pinched nerve could be linked to an alignment problem? A free video consultation can help you decide if whole-body imaging is the right next step.
Book a free video consultationHow long does a pinched nerve last and what helps?
Many pinched nerves improve within a few weeks with simple changes such as rest, gentle movement and avoiding the posture or activity that aggravates the symptoms. Some take longer, particularly if the underlying cause is a structural issue like a disc bulge or a joint that has shifted position over time.
General approaches that may support recovery include:
- Taking short breaks from prolonged sitting or standing in one position.
- Gentle stretching and movement guided by a physiotherapist.
- Adjusting your workstation or sleeping position to reduce pressure on the affected area.
- Over-the-counter pain relief, used as directed by a pharmacist or GP.
When symptoms persist or keep returning, it is worth asking whether the root cause has been properly identified. If a problem in your alignment is putting ongoing pressure on a nerve, treating the symptoms alone may not be enough. Clear imaging of your whole skeleton, taken while you are standing, can give your treating clinician the information they need to plan the right approach.
When is MRI more appropriate? EOS shows bones, joints and alignment beautifully. For soft tissue detail, such as discs, nerves or the spinal cord itself, MRI is usually the better tool. In many cases, your clinician may want both: EOS for the overall picture of how your body loads when standing, and MRI for a closer look at the soft tissue around the compressed nerve.
Frequently asked questions about pinched nerves
Most people describe sharp, burning or shooting pain that travels along the nerve path. You may also feel tingling, pins and needles, numbness or muscle weakness in the area the nerve supplies.
Yes. This is called referred pain. A nerve pinched in the lower back can cause pain in the foot, and one compressed in the neck can send symptoms down the arm to the hand.
Diagnosis usually involves a clinical examination and imaging. MRI is commonly used to look at soft tissue around the nerve. Standing whole-body imaging, such as an EOS scan, can show alignment issues that contribute to the compression.
EOS is a low-dose standing X-ray that captures your full skeleton in one image. It reveals alignment problems, such as a pelvic tilt or shifted spinal curve, that may be putting pressure on a nerve. You can learn more on the EOS scan overview page.
Yes. EOS uses about 90% less radiation than a standard X-ray, around ten times less. Details on safety, preparation and what to expect are covered on the FAQs page.
No. ScanAlign accepts self-referrals. You can start with a free video consultation to discuss whether an EOS scan is appropriate for your situation.
Pricing details are available on the FAQs and cost page.
Many pinched nerves improve within a few weeks with rest and gentle movement. Some take longer, especially if the underlying cause is structural. Persistent or recurring symptoms often benefit from imaging to identify the root cause.
Yes. Sustained poor posture can shift the load on your spine and joints, narrowing the spaces nerves pass through. Over time, this can lead to compression. A standing scan shows exactly how your body carries its weight. Read more about spinal alignment and imaging.
Seek urgent medical attention (GP, 111 or A&E) if you develop sudden weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or rapidly spreading numbness. These symptoms need immediate assessment.
Find out what is really going on
A free video consultation with our team can help you understand whether whole-body standing imaging is the right next step for your nerve symptoms.
Book a free video consultationSources
- NHS. "Peripheral neuropathy." nhs.uk. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/peripheral-neuropathy/
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. "Cervical Radiculopathy (Pinched Nerve)." OrthoInfo. Available at: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/cervical-radiculopathy-pinched-nerve/
- Illés T, Somoskeöy S. "The EOS imaging system and its uses in daily orthopaedic practice." International Orthopaedics. 2012;36(7):1405-1411.
Written by Abbas Dhami (Specialist Diagnostic Radiographer)
This page is general information and not a diagnosis.
ScanAlign is the trading name of CoreMed Solutions Ltd and operates under The Harley Street Hospital's CQC licence.