Nerve
Pinched Nerve & Nerve Root Impingement — North Vancouver
Burning or shooting pain, numbness, or weakness that runs down an arm or leg in a line. When a spinal nerve gets pinched, the trick is taking pressure off it while keeping the rest of you moving.
What it is
Understanding your nerve root impingement / pinched nerve.
Nerve root impingement is what happens when one of the nerves leaving the spine gets compressed or pinched. That pressure scrambles the signals the nerve is meant to carry, so instead of a local ache you get symptoms that travel: sharp or burning pain, numbness, pins and needles, or a patch of weakness running along the nerve's route.
Where the symptoms land tells you which nerve is involved. A pinched nerve in the neck sends its complaint down the arm and into the hand; one in the low back sends it down the leg and into the foot. People often notice it spikes with particular movements — bending, twisting, reaching, or lifting — and that everyday tasks like carrying groceries or working overhead become awkward.
The cause is usually one of a few things crowding the space the nerve passes through. A bulging or herniated disc pressing on the nerve is the classic one. Bone spurs from arthritis can narrow the exit channels, and swelling or inflammation in the surrounding structures adds to the squeeze. Slumped posture, repetitive lifting, and long stretches of sitting or bending tend to aggravate it and keep it lit up.
What to expect
A genuinely pinched nerve takes patience — the nerve calms on its own timeline, and that's typically six to twelve weeks for the radiating pain to fully quiet down. The encouraging part is that day-to-day function usually improves well before the last of the symptoms clear, as we find the positions that decompress the nerve and reduce the flares. Most nerve-root problems resolve with conservative care and never need surgery.
Get a plan
Not sure if we're the right fit?
Send us a quick note about what's going on. A physiotherapist — not a receptionist — will read it and reply with what they'd recommend. No commitment to book.
Common questions
About nerve root impingement / pinched nerve.
Is a pinched nerve the same as sciatica?+
Sciatica is one example of it. Sciatica is the name for nerve-root impingement in the low back that sends pain down the leg along the sciatic nerve. The same mechanism in the neck instead sends symptoms down the arm. The principles of care are similar; the specific tests and exercises differ by region.
Should I rest completely until the shooting pain stops?+
No. A short period of avoiding the clearly provocative movements helps, but staying still for long backfires — the surrounding muscles stiffen and de-condition, which can make the nerve more sensitive. The better approach is finding the positions and movements that ease the symptoms and doing those often. We'll identify them with you.
When do I need imaging or a specialist?+
Most pinched nerves don't need either at the start. We do refer promptly if there are red flags — rapidly worsening weakness, symptoms in both legs, or any change in bladder or bowel control are reasons to seek urgent medical care. Short of those, we assess and treat first and involve your physician if you stall.
My fingers keep going numb. Is the nerve being damaged permanently?+
Usually not. Numbness and tingling mean the nerve is irritated and its signalling is disrupted, which is uncomfortable but generally reversible once the pressure comes off. Persistent or progressing weakness is the symptom we watch more closely, and we'll loop in your physician if it appears.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual presentations vary — assessment findings and treatment plans differ from person to person. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, neurological changes (numbness, weakness, bowel or bladder changes), or a significant trauma, contact your physician or emergency services. Physiotherapy at Medstar Sport Physio & Health is provided by physiotherapists registered with the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia (CPTBC).