Numbness or tingling in an arm or leg is a sign to seek help and evaluation from a spine specialist. Referred to as radiculopathy, this numbness or tingling in the extremities is caused when one or more spinal nerve roots are compressed, irritated, or inflamed.
Pinched nerves are a common cause of neck or back pain. Nerves can become compressed, irritated, or inflamed and this leads to a variety of uncomfortable and sometimes debilitating symptoms. Pinched nerves can happen when there is a herniated disc, bone spurs, spinal stenosis, muscle tightness, or repetitive motion injuries.
Neck and back pain are a problem for more than 16 million Americans. It often results in chronic pain that can limit even everyday activities. In the past, the only surgical option was a fusion where the problem disc was removed, and the bones were fused together. Today, we have artificial discs that can replace the injured disc and can preserve motion in the neck or the back.
