Pinched nerves are a common---and painful---medical condition. Pinched nerves normally go away on their own, but in rare cases need the attention of a medical professional.
The Facts
When too much pressure is put on a nerve by surrounding tissues, it can become pinched. Nerve can become pinched by anything from swelling muscles and tissues to slipped discs in your back.
A pinched nerve (or a compressed nerve, as it is sometimes called) can cause anything from pain to numbness. A pinched nerve can happen anywhere in your body.
Identification
It is sometimes hard to tell if you have a pinched nerve, because it can create a variety of different feelings, such as numbness, burning, muscle twitches or a sharp pain in the area where the nerve is located. Many people describe the feeling of a pinched nerve as being like the feeling you get when your arm or leg has "fallen asleep." Often the feelings created by the pinched nerve get worse when you lie down.
