The symptoms of a pinched nerve, also sometimes referred to as radiculopathy, may include tingling, radiating pain, burning pain, numbness or a decrease in sensation affecting a specific body part, such as the back, neck, legs, feet or arms. Paresthesia, or the feeling of pins and needles prickling beneath the skin, is also a common symptom. Occasionally, a pinched nerve may be characterized by twitching muscles or muscle weakness. One of the most commonly reported symptoms of a pinched nerve, however, is a sensation that a limb has fallen asleep.

When a nerve is pressed by something such as a herniated disk, a bone or a tendon, the symptoms of a pinched nerve are the result. Often this is caused by an underlying condition, which has caused pressure on a nerve. Such conditions include carpal tunnel syndrome, a back injury or arthritis. Although nerve compression most commonly occurs in the back and the neck, any nerve in the body can become pinched.

The symptoms of a pinched nerve may come and go throughout the course of a day or may depend on the activity a person is engaging in. In some individuals, symptoms are always present, but only worsen during particular activities. As a disorder, radiculopathy is commonly divided into two types, lumbar and cervical. Lumbar radiculopathy refers specifically to symptoms of a pinched nerve in the lower back, while cervical radiculopathy refers to a pinched nerve located in the neck.

Symptoms of a pinched nerve in the lower back will produce numbness, paresthesia, pain and muscle spasms. Such symptoms also tend to produce a radiating pain beginning in the back and extending down the length of one or both legs. In some people, the nerve may become further aggravated when bodily functions, such as laughing or sneezing, place additional pressure on the abdomen.

An affected nerve in the neck will produce similar symptoms, but pain will be relegated more so to the neck and shoulder area. Often, the symptoms of a pinched nerve are relieved by over-the-counter creams and ointments, which provide temporary relief from pain, or from prescribed medications. In severe cases, however, surgery may be necessary to relieve the nerve of pressure.

The symptoms of a pinched nerve can also trigger secondary issues. A few of these issues include a loss of sleep, irritability and depression. Each of these is related to the pain and discomfort originally produced by a pinched nerve, which often leads to impaired mobility and emotional disturbances.