You may experience slightly different symptoms depending on the location of the pinched nerve, too. How a Pinched Nerve Affects YouĪ pinched nerve can cause that pins and needles sensation that feels like a combination of pain, tingling, and numbness in a certain area. However, a more serious case of a pinched nerve can cause pins and needles and other symptoms that affect you for much longer periods of time. This type of pinched nerve easily resolves once you change positions or move around for a little bit. This is because one of the nerves that sends signals to your foot has become compressed and is unable to function properly. The mildest example of a pinched nerve is often referred to as “my foot falling asleep.” You may have been sitting in one position for too long and start to notice a pins and needles sensation in your foot or feel like your foot is numb. Common Causes of a Pinched NerveĪ pinched nerve can occur for a number of reasons. A pinched nerve can show up on an MRI because of how highly detailed these scans are, and your doctor can use this to pinpoint the location and proceed with the best course of treatment for you. However, a pinched nerve can really impact your quality of life due to the painful and uncomfortable symptoms. When one of these tiny nerves becomes aggravated, you don’t necessarily expect it to wreck your whole day. The body is filled with millions of nerves that help support everything your body does throughout the day and night. An MRI can provide your doctor with highly detailed images of the affected area. If you are dealing with pain that has gone undiagnosed, then your doctor may recommend diagnostic imaging tools like MRI scans to help identify the underlying cause.

Xray pinched nerve in neck