Recognize the symptoms of a pinched nerve before it's too late.

Radiculopathy, or "pinched nerve," or in Indonesian, pinched nerve, is a condition where the nerve is compressed by the surrounding tissue. This tissue can be muscle, tendon, bone, or cartilage. Because nerves run throughout the body, pinched nerves can also occur in various locations in the body.

The causes of a pinched nerve, also known as a pinched nerve, come from various factors, including age, daily habits, and certain medical conditions. Treatment cannot be done haphazardly, considering that inappropriate actions can increase the risk of permanent damage to the nerves.

What can cause a pinched nerve?

Some body positions can increase pressure around the nerves, such as leaning on your elbows or crossing your legs for long periods of time. Apart from that, there are also several conditions that can cause a pinched nerve, including:

- Disc herniation, a condition that occurs due to the spinal disc shifting from its proper place

- Rheumatoid arthritis, or inflammation of the joints

- Spinal stenosis, which is an abnormal narrowing of the spine,

- Carpal tunnel syndrome: this condition occurs when the median nerve in the wrist is compressed.

- Injuries, bruises, or other conditions that cause swelling can also trigger a pinched nerve.

Pinched nerve symptoms

Nerves cannot function normally when they receive excessive pressure from the surrounding tissue. Therefore, pain arises, which is an indication of a pinched nerve.

The pain caused by a pinched nerve is often misinterpreted as ordinary pain, so quite a few people underestimate this disease. In fact, there are other signs and symptoms of a pinched nerve that can be observed, namely:

- Parts of the body feel painful with a burning sensation.

- Tingling

- Numbness or numbness

- Muscle weakness in the part of the body affected by the pinched nerve

- Symptoms worsen when the sufferer tries to perform certain movements, such as turning the head or tensing the neck.

Who is at risk of developing this disease?

Groups of people who are at high risk of experiencing a pinched nerve include:

- pregnant mother. Increased fluid volume during pregnancy can make the cavity narrower, which can put pressure on the nerves.

- Diabetics

- People who often lie down for a long time

- family history of pinched nerves

- Age factor. As you get older, vertebral discs (connections between bones) become inflexible and tear easily.

- Injury to the spine

- Often, do activities that put stress on the spine, for example, lifting heavy weights.

- People who often use their wrists or shoulders repeatedly at work

- excess weight. This causes the burden on the spine to increase.

How do I prevent it?

People who have been affected by a pinched nerve can experience it again in the future. For prevention, you can do the following:

- Body posture when sitting is in a good and correct position.

- Avoid crossing your legs when sitting for a long time.

- Maintain ideal body weight.

- Take short breaks when doing repetitive activities.

- Use a brace or corset to maintain good body position.

- Exercise to strengthen muscles and relax the body

Prevention and diagnosis as early as possible can make treating a pinched nerve easier so that you get better results. Therefore, immediately consult a doctor if you feel signs and symptoms of a pinched nerve to get the right treatment.