The human body has a lot of nerves, in fact, the adult body has over 46 miles of nerves. These nerves play an important role in the body as they are responsible for carrying important messages from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. For example, it's your nerves that tell you to pull your hand away from something hot. Sometimes, things can go wrong with the nerves in the body. One such problem you can experience with your nerves is a pinched nerve.

Here are the answers to three frequently asked questions when it comes to pinched nerves.

What Causes a Pinched Nerve?

When there is pressure on a nerve, it causes it to become compressed, or pinched. Sometimes if you do the same motion over and over again with a certain part of your body, it can cause a nerve to become pinched. Another reason a nerve becomes pinched is when your body is in the same position for a prolonged period of time.

People with certain conditions are at an increased risk of getting a pinched nerve. Some of these conditions include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Thyroid disease
• Diabetes
• Pregnancy

Maintaining good body positioning, taking frequent breaks from repetitive activities, and stretching your body can help to decrease your chances of getting a pinched nerve.

What Are the Symptoms of Pinched Nerves

In most cases, you will feel certain sensations in the part of the body the pinched nerve is located. For example, if you have neck and back pain, the compressed nerve is most likely somewhere in your spine. If you have a pinched nerve in your neck or arm, you might feel pain or tingling in your wrist, elbow, hand, or fingers.

Other common symptoms of a pinched nerve include:

• Muscle weakness in the area that is affected
• Feeling like a part of your body has fallen asleep
• Sharp pain that radiates outward

If have any of these symptoms on a regular basis, you should see your doctor for pinched nerve relief.

How Are Pinched Nerves Treated?

If you have already tried things like practicing good body positioning and you continue to get pinched nerves, your doctor may have you undergo diagnostic testing to determine the root cause. Some effective treatment options for pinched nerves include certain medications and physical therapy. In some instances, surgery may need to be performed in order to remove pressure from the nerve. Contact a clinic, like Beltline Chiropractic, for more help.