Nerve compression typically causes sharp, shooting pain that travels along the nerve pathway into your arm or leg. You might experience tingling, pins and needles, or numbness in specific areas supplied by that nerve. Some people describe it as an electric shock sensation. Weakness in certain muscles can develop if compression is significant, making it difficult to grip objects or lift your foot. Symptoms often worsen with particular movements or positions that further narrow the space around the nerve. The location of your symptoms helps identify which nerve is being compressed.

Not always. Mild to moderate nerve compression often improves with conservative treatment, and many people recover fully once pressure is relieved through medication, physiotherapy, or injections. However, severe or prolonged compression can cause permanent nerve damage if left untreated. This is why progressive weakness is concerning and may require prompt surgical intervention. Nerves have some capacity to recover once decompressed, though the extent of recovery depends on how long compression existed and how severely the nerve was damaged. Earlier treatment generally leads to better outcomes.

Several conditions can compress spinal nerves. Herniated discs occur when the soft inner disc material pushes out and presses on nearby nerves. Bone spurs from arthritis can narrow the spaces where nerves exit. Spinal stenosis involves generalised narrowing of the spinal canal. Thickened ligaments, tumours, or inflammatory conditions may also compress nerves. Sometimes a combination of factors contributes. Ageing, previous injuries, repetitive strain, and genetics all play roles. Identifying the specific cause through examination and imaging guides appropriate treatment.

Some cases do improve spontaneously, particularly when caused by disc herniations, as the protruding disc material can shrink over time. Your body’s inflammatory response settles, and pressure on the nerve reduces. This is why doctors often recommend trying conservative treatment for several weeks before considering surgery, unless there’s severe or rapidly progressing weakness. However, compression from bone spurs or structural narrowing is less likely to resolve without intervention. Response to initial treatment helps determine whether the nerve will recover naturally or requires surgical decompression.

Diagnosis combines clinical assessment with imaging studies. Dr. Sherief will test your reflexes, strength, and sensation to determine which nerves are affected. Specific manoeuvres during examination can reproduce your symptoms and indicate the compression site. MRI scans provide detailed images showing exactly where and how severely nerves are compressed. Sometimes nerve conduction studies measure how well the nerve is functioning, though imaging usually provides sufficient information. The correlation between your symptoms, examination findings, and scan results confirms the diagnosis and guides treatment planning.