Pinched nerves often occur when a nerve is compressed between a ligament or tendon and a bone. Overuse of certain parts of the body can cause a pinched nerve. For instance, long periods working on an assembly line, at a keyboard or at other repetitive tasks can cause a repetitive stress injury. A familiar, minor example of a pinched nerve is a foot or arm “falling asleep” because of temporary pressure on a nerve serving the affected limb.

Conditions associated with pinched nerves include:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome. Compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel of the wrist. Hand and wrist pain, numbness and tingling typically result.

• Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis). An injury to the outer elbow that affects the area where the tendons of the forearm muscles attach to the bony prominence on the outside of the elbow. Pain can also spread into the forearm and wrist.
  
  

• Golfer elbow (medial epicondylitis). Like tennis elbow, this is a form of tendinitis caused by overuse but affects the inner elbow.
  
  
• Ulnar nerve entrapment. Compression of the ulnar nerve in the arm, most often in the cubital tunnel of the elbow (cubital tunnel syndrome). Injury of the ulnar nerve may be due to sudden or repetitive trauma.
  
  
• Subscapular nerve entrapment. Shoulder pain caused by impingement of the subscapular nerve.
  
  
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome. Foot pain caused by impingement of the tibial nerve.
  
  
• Sciatica. Can result when a herniated disc in the lower spine presses on a nerve root, causing pain that radiates down the back of the leg.
  
  
• Compression of a spinal nerve. Restriction of nerves as they leave the spine. This compression can be due to spinal stenosis (narrowing of space inside the spinal column), to bone spurs formed from spinal arthritis or to a ruptured disc.

• Peripheral neuropathy. A disease or degenerative state of the nerves. Failure to treat pinched nerves may result in chronic neuropathy.
  
  
• Tumor. Malignant (cancer) or benign tumors can compress nerves.
  
  
• Use of crutches. These can constrict nerves in the axillary (armpit) region.
  
  
• Scar tissue resulting from previous surgery.
  
  
• Excessive swelling in soft tissues (e.g., after injury). Rarely, this can cause pressure on a nerve.