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Ask Dr. Wills: What Are The Risk Factors For A Pinched Nerve?

One of the causes of arm or leg pain is radiculopathy, commonly referred to as a pinched nerve. Although not all of the causes of radiculopathy can be corrected by preventative measures, knowing the risk factors can help us take steps to keep our back healthy.

“No one wants to experience the pain that accompanies a pinched nerve,” says Dr. Nicholas Wills. “At Summit, our spine team takes a comprehensive approach to helping our patients keep the spine as healthy as possible. Part of prevention means knowing the factors that can increase the pressure around a nerve and put it at higher risk for compression.” This article explores pinched nerve risk factors and causes.

Pinched Nerve Risk Factors

A pinched nerve is caused when the nerve is compressed, or pinched, by surrounding bone or tissues. A number of conditions can cause nerve compression, including the following:

“We may not be able to control all of the factors that make us more vulnerable to a pinched nerve along the spine,” says Dr. Wills. “But understanding the conditions that increase risk shows us the steps we can take to keep our spine healthy. When a pinched nerve does cause distress, our spine team is here to evaluate and diagnosis the problem, and design a treatment plan tailored to address your pain and help restore damaged nerves to healthy function.”

Pinched nerve treatment

Summit Orthopedics is home to Minneapolis/St. Paul’s top spine specialists for pinched nerve treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms of a pinched nerve, the spine team at Summit Orthopedics will work with you to confirm a diagnosis and develop an appropriate conservative treatment plan to address your problems. If nonsurgical treatments fail to support your lifestyle goals, fellowship-trained spine surgeons are here to consult with you and discuss appropriate surgical options.

Summit Orthopedics offers comprehensive spine expertise

Our back specialists diagnose spine problems and design custom treatment plans built on a conservative, nonsurgical approach. Most patients find relief through treatments including guided injections, specialized physical therapy, biofeedback, exercise, activity modification, and medication. When conservative care does not relieve symptoms, our highly skilled surgeons offer proven, evidence-based surgical options. Together with you, we will determine the right course of action.

Start your journey to a healthy spine. Find your spine expert, request an appointment online, or call us at (651) 968–5201 to schedule a spine consultation.

Summit has convenient locations across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We have state-of-the-art centers for comprehensive orthopedic care in Eagan, MNPlymouth, MN, Vadnais Heights, MN, and Woodbury, MN, as well as additional community clinics throughout the metro and southern Minnesota.

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