Pinched Nerve Specialist

Pain, tingling, or numbness that refuses to subside might be a sign of a pinched nerve. Hundreds of thousands of people experience this condition each year in the US. But with the help of a top-rated pinched nerve specialist in Los Angeles, you could be on your way to restored comfort and mobility. Dr. Sarkiss, a spine surgeon in Los Angeles, specializes in a range of treatments to address a pinched nerve and manage symptoms.

Common Causes of a Pinched Nerve

A pinched nerve happens when surrounding tissues or structures put too much pressure on a nerve. When this occurs, it can disrupt the nerve’s normal function. A range of causes can lead to a pinched nerve, with the most common being?
  • Herniated spinal disc
  • Arthritis (bone spurs from the condition)
  • Repetitive motion injuries
  • Poor or awkward posture
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Obesity
  • Trauma or injury

Benefits of Treating a Pinched Nerve

The sooner you treat a pinched nerve, the sooner you can experience dramatic relief. The top benefits of treating your nerve include:
  • Pain Reduction: Reduce or eliminate pain, numbness, or tingling caused by the pinched nerve.
  • Restored Mobility: Regain flexibility and ease of performing basic tasks that require movement.
  • Improved Sleep: Get higher-quality sleep due to improved comfort.
  • Reduced Long-Term Risk: Timely treatment can help prevent lasting damage to the nerve.

Pinched Nerve Treatment Options

Treating a pinched nerve focuses on relieving symptoms and restoring mobility. Dr. Sarkiss always starts with the most conservative options. Ultimately, the right treatment will depend on the cause, location, and severity of the pinched nerve. Treatment options can include:
Physical Therapy: Often, the right strengthening and stretching exercises can relieve pressure on the nerve.
Lifestyle Modifications: Improving posture or reducing weight can often provide notable improvements.
Medications: Muscle relaxants or anti-inflammatory medications can help alleviate symptoms.
Corticosteroids: These injections can provide targeted reduction in nerve inflammation.
Minimally Invasive Surgery: When conservative treatment proves insufficient, surgical intervention may be necessary.

Pinched Nerve FAQs

What results can I expect?
Result quality and duration will depend on several factors. Usually, nonsurgical treatments tend to provide improvements within a few weeks. However, patients will need to maintain a lifestyle that avoids a recurrence of a pinched nerve.
With surgery, patients tend to see dramatic, lasting relief following a short recovery period. You will want to work with an established spine and nerve surgeon with a deep understanding of the body’s structures.

Your exact symptoms can vary, but nerve issues tend to have a few notable signs. If you notice any of the following, we recommend scheduling a diagnostic appointment with Dr. Sarkiss.

  • Sharp or burning pain that radiates outward
  • Tingling or pins-and-needles sensation
  • Numbness in the arms, legs, hands, or feet
  • Muscle weakness
  • Worsening pain during sleep or movement
Most patients will not need surgery for a pinched nerve. In fact, a pinched nerve may resolve on its own or with conservative care. However, when your symptoms persist despite conservative efforts, we may begin to consider surgical intervention. The good news is that pinched nerve surgery is typically minimally invasive with a brief, mild recovery period. More invasive techniques are needed only if other issues are present, such as a herniated disc or traumatic injury.

If you need surgery, your surgeon will recommend an approach specific to your situation. Dr. Sarkiss factors in the nerve’s location and underlying cause when building a plan for surgery. Surgical options can include:

  • Microdiscectomy: For a herniated disc (removes part of the disc).
  • Laminectomy: Reduces nerve pressure by removing part of the vertebrae.
  • Foraminotomy: Widens the space where the nerve exits the spine.
  • Spinal fusion: Provides increased stability for a portion of the spine.

Schedule a Consultation

Work with Los Angeles’s leading pinched nerve specialist to see results that restore your quality of life. Dr. Sarkiss has years of experience providing life-changing treatment for a range of spine and nerve conditions, reducing symptoms and restoring mobility.