Pinched Nerve
“Pinched nerve” is not a medical word but is used to denote damage to a nerve or group of nerves caused by compression, constriction, or stretching. Symptoms emerge as a result of inflammation of the compressed nerve. The nerves of the upper arm are a particularly susceptible part. The median nerve, stemming from the brachial plexus of the upper arm, is vulnerable because of its length. The radial nerve that controls the movements of the triceps and the ulnar nerve can also be pinched, causing numbness and tingling. These nerves, or branches of them, can be compressed at various points throughout the arm’s length.
On the other hand, the axillary nerve travels from the neck down the side of the body and out through the armpit and across the humerus bone. A pinched axillary nerve may be caused by trauma to the rotator cuff and repetitive straining movements in sports. A pinched axillary nerve causes a painful shoulder and arms muscular strain. Symptoms such as upper-arm numbness and tingling may make it hard to raise or rotate the arm. Before doing any stretches or exercises for a pinched nerve, one should have a physician’s recommendation to avoid accidentally aggravating the nerve.
