A numbness or decrease in sensation to an area of the body, a pain that radiates outward that is sharp, the feeling of pins and needles, or a feeling of your foot or hand falling asleep are all symptoms of a pinched nerve.
The spinal canal is surrounded by nerves and nerve roots. Surrounding the nerves are tissues such as muscles and tendons. If the cushion (disc) between the vertebrae is herniated, this is often the main cause of a pinched nerve.
In a herniated or ruptured disc, the nucleus of the disc presses on the nerve or a set of nerves.
