What does a pinched nerve in the back/neck feel like?
Do you suffer from pain in your back or neck due to pinched nerves? If so, you are not alone. This is a very common problem that can lead to extreme pain and discomfort. To complicate things further, the symptoms of pinched nerves can be very varied, making it confusing to figure out if the pain is actually coming from the pinched nerve or from another structure from the spine. In this blog post, we will discuss why and how our nerves get irritated or pinched and what a nerve pain can feel like.  
 
Our spine is made up of vertebrae stacked on top of each other with jelly like discs between them. There is set of nerves coming out from either side of the spine. These nerves can get irritated or compressed due to different causes, ranging from a disc prolapse to bony spurs from osteoarthritis (OA spine), or simply swelling in the area due to trauma or muscle spasm, leading to the symptoms of pinched nerve. 
 
Interestingly specific nerves supply certain parts of the body. Example: If the nerve is originating in the lower back (lumbar spine) the symptoms can be seen anywhere from the buttock to the toes and if the pinched nerve is present in the neck (cervical spine) the symptoms can present anywhere from the shoulders to the fingers. This is the reason when your doctor says that you have a nerve compression at your 5th cervical vertebra the symptoms are felt in the shoulder area. 

Moving on to the symptoms of a pinched nerve, these can vary from burning, achy pain, pins and needles, tingling, numbness or a combination of tingling numbness that closely resembles the feeling of your leg falling asleep when you have sat in one position for too long. It can also manifest as loss or lack of sensation in the legs or arms. You may feel a little unsteady when walking or lifting heavy objects. You might have a severe ache going down the leg or arm. An example of this is sciatica, which is a sharp, achy pain in the buttock that can go down all the way to your heel. 
 
The symptom that your pinched nerve exhibits always depends on which part of your nerve is affected. A nerve is similar to an electric wire. When you cut it open it has multiple smaller never fibres, each of which carries a certain sensation such as burning, numbness, pain etc up to your brain. Your symptoms will depend on which specific nerve fibre is being compressed in your nerve.
 
Watch this video to learn 4 easy tips to relieve the pain from pinched nerves:


It is important to know that most of the issues leading to nerve pain and neck/back pain are caused by inflammation. If you want to learn more about how to reduce your inflammation and nerve pain you can find the details HERE 

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MEET SWATI

 
Hi there! 
I am Swati, an Executive Mum Power Coach & Certified Posture Expert

I help mums of young kids working in high-stress executive jobs manage back, neck, and nerve pain, even with low energy, brain fog, and little time to spare. My proven system delivers real relief without stealing hours from your already packed day. The result? More productive professionals at work and guilt-free mums who can be fully present with their kids, instead of being sidelined by pain.



My passion comes from personal experience. I’ve been where you are: in pain, overwhelmed, and exhausted. After two pregnancies in three years, juggling my kids, housework, and a demanding job, I was stuck in a constant cycle of back and nerve pain. The physical load of motherhood added strain to my spine and joints. Meanwhile, adrenal fatigue left me drained, even after 10–12 hours of sleep.

Everyday tasks became a struggle. I was forgetful, foggy, and low on energy. Even as a trained physiotherapist and posture expert, I couldn’t escape my own pain. I stood all day at work, spent evenings on the laptop, rocked my kids to sleep, sat through endless meetings, traveled frequently ... I’ve been through it all.

I kept my pain hidden at work, afraid to speak up. I felt like a fraud, someone who coached others on relief strategies but couldn’t find relief herself. I loved my job and my children, but I couldn’t give 100% to either. Pain was holding me back.

One New Year, I made a resolution: to get healthy, not just fix pain, fatigue, or weight. I focused on reducing inflammation, healing my adrenal fatigue, and reclaiming my energy. Slowly but surely, the pain faded. I lost weight, my brain fog cleared, and my energy skyrocketed. Today, my pain is nearly gone. I feel stronger, clearer, and more in control than I have in years.
And now, I want that for you.

I combine professional expertise with lived experience to support other mums like me, those with young kids, high-stress jobs, and no time for complicated health programs. I’ve helped hundreds of women reduce spinal and joint pain, lift their energy, and clear the mental fog that holds them back.

If any of this resonates, you’re not alone. I’ve been there. I got you, mommy!

Let’s get you feeling strong, confident, and fully present at work and at home.
Are you ready to start? Curious about how this works? Just ask.

Let's DO THIS!
xx Swati
** Executive Mum Power Coach **

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