Pinched Nerve / Radiculopathy Treatment in Bloomington, MN
Nerve pain that radiates from the spine into the arm or leg is a spinal problem first. We focus on the structural cause, not just the symptom.
Pinched Nerve Treatment At A Glance
A pinched nerve in the spine produces some of the most disruptive symptoms a patient can deal with, and the pattern is often misread for months before the spine is identified as the source. Patients in Bloomington describe shooting pain down an arm or a leg, numbness in specific fingers or toes, weakness that affects grip or gait, and a constant sense that something is wrong but not where the pain seems to be located.
At Riverview Spine, we focus on pinched nerves that originate at the spine, where a nerve root is compressed or irritated as it exits the spinal column. Cervical and lumbar nerve roots account for the majority of these cases. Spinal decompression, chiropractic adjustments, and targeted rehabilitation form a non-surgical care plan built around reducing the pressure on the affected nerve and restoring function to the limb the nerve serves.
Last Reviewed By: Dr. Rod Opferkew on July 2, 2026
What Is A Pinched Nerve Or Radiculopathy?
A pinched nerve in the spine, clinically called radiculopathy, occurs when a spinal nerve root becomes compressed or irritated as it exits the spinal column. The compression can come from a bulging or herniated disc, a narrowing of the bony opening where the nerve exits, arthritic changes in the spinal joints, or thickening of the surrounding ligaments.
Each spinal nerve root supplies a specific area of the body. A pinched nerve in the lower cervical spine sends symptoms into the shoulder, arm, or hand. A pinched nerve in the lumbar spine sends symptoms into the hip, leg, or foot. The pattern of symptoms helps identify which nerve root is involved.
When a nerve root is irritated, the entire pathway can become symptomatic. Pain travels along the nerve. Numbness or tingling appears in the area the nerve supplies. Muscle weakness develops in the muscles the nerve controls.
This page focuses on pinched nerves that originate at the spine. Compression of peripheral nerves further out, such as the median nerve at the wrist in carpal tunnel, follows a different mechanism and is addressed on its own condition page.
Common Symptoms Of A Pinched Nerve
Pinched nerve symptoms vary depending on which nerve root is involved and how severely it is compressed, but the patterns are recognizable.
Pain is often the first complaint. It may be sharp, burning, or electric, and it travels along the path of the affected nerve. Cervical radiculopathy sends pain into the shoulder, arm, or hand. Lumbar radiculopathy sends pain into the buttock, leg, or foot.
Numbness and tingling typically follow the same pathway. Patients can often point to specific fingers or specific parts of the foot that feel different, which helps identify the exact nerve root involved.
Weakness develops as the nerve becomes more irritated or compressed. Cervical radiculopathy may produce weakness in shoulder movement, elbow function, or grip strength. Lumbar radiculopathy may produce weakness with raising the foot, standing on tiptoes, or knee extension.
Symptoms often vary with position. Certain neck positions worsen cervical patterns. Sitting, bending, or coughing worsens lumbar patterns. Most patients find a position that gives temporary relief, but the relief disappears as soon as they move out of it. Sleep is frequently disrupted as the nerve refuses to settle.
What Causes A Pinched Nerve
Pinched nerves at the spine develop from several common sources, often in combination.
A bulging or herniated disc is the most common cause. When disc material extends beyond its normal boundary, it can press directly on a nerve root or inflame the surrounding tissue. The cervical and lumbar discs are most commonly involved because of how much load they carry.
Bony changes from arthritis can crowd the openings where nerves exit the spine. Over time, bone spurs and thickened ligaments reduce the space the nerve has to function, especially with certain positions or activities.
Spinal stenosis, which is narrowing of the spinal canal or the nerve root openings, is a related contributor that often shows up in older adults. The narrowing is gradual, and symptoms often build slowly over years.
Acute injuries can take a previously asymptomatic spine and push it into a radiculopathy. A heavy lift, a fall, or a sudden twist can be the trigger event, though the underlying conditions usually developed long before that day.
Conditions That Can Mimic A Pinched Nerve
Several conditions create radiating limb symptoms that look like a pinched nerve in the spine but originate elsewhere.
Peripheral nerve entrapments, including carpal tunnel syndrome at the wrist or thoracic outlet syndrome near the collarbone, can produce hand and arm symptoms that resemble cervical radiculopathy. Piriformis syndrome can mimic lumbar radiculopathy by compressing the sciatic nerve in the buttock rather than at the spine.
Shoulder and hip joint problems can refer pain into the limb in ways that look nerve-driven without involving a nerve at all. Certain systemic conditions can produce limb symptoms that mimic radiculopathy.
A careful neurological exam, combined with specific orthopedic tests, helps separate these conditions. Knowing whether the source is the spine, a peripheral nerve, a joint, or a systemic issue is what makes treatment effective rather than scattered.
When To Seek Urgent Care For A Pinched Nerve
Most pinched nerves are safely managed with conservative care, but some symptoms require immediate medical attention. Seek urgent care if a pinched nerve produces rapidly worsening weakness, loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, complete loss of sensation in a limb, fever, unexplained weight loss, or symptoms that follow a significant trauma. These signs may indicate cauda equina syndrome, severe cord compression, or another emergency that requires same-day evaluation.
What Our Patients Are Saying
How We Diagnose A Pinched Nerve
Diagnosing a pinched nerve at Riverview Spine begins with mapping the symptom pattern. Where does the pain travel? Which fingers or toes are numb? What positions help? What activities make symptoms worse?
The physical exam includes posture analysis, spinal range of motion, and a detailed neurological screen. Reflexes, sensation testing, and muscle strength testing along the affected limb help identify which specific nerve root is involved. Each spinal nerve serves a recognizable area, and the pattern usually points clearly to a level.
Specific provocation tests can reproduce radiculopathy symptoms from spinal positions, which helps confirm the source. Palpation of the spine identifies areas of restricted motion and inflammation that often correspond to the involved level.
X-rays may be used to evaluate disc height, alignment, and bony changes around the nerve opening. Advanced imaging is reserved for cases with progressive neurological signs or where conservative care has not produced expected progress.
What to Expect From Your Care at Riverview Spine
Your care at Riverview Spine begins with a detailed consultation and physical examination, followed by X-rays to give Dr. Rod a clear structural picture. From there, he builds a personalized care plan that may include chiropractic adjustments, spinal decompression for disc-related causes, and guidance on movement and posture. Many patients notice meaningful improvement within the first few visits. Your progress is tracked throughout, and the plan is updated as your condition responds.
How We Treat A Pinched Nerve At Riverview Spine
Pinched nerve care at Riverview Spine is focused on reducing the pressure on the affected nerve root and addressing the structures causing the compression. Spinal decompression is often a primary tool. Combined with chiropractic adjustments and rehabilitation, the goal is a non-surgical resolution for the majority of cases.
Why Early Treatment For A Pinched Nerve Matters
Nerves recover more slowly than other tissues, which makes early treatment for a pinched nerve especially important. The longer a nerve root stays compressed, the more sensitive it becomes and the longer recovery takes after the compression is reduced.
Muscle weakness from a pinched nerve can become more difficult to reverse if the nerve compression persists. Function returns more reliably when care begins before significant weakness has developed.
Early care also expands the options. Spinal decompression and conservative treatment work best when the case has not yet become severe. Acting early often means a non-surgical resolution rather than a longer recovery and more complicated decisions later.
Meet The Team Behind Your Care
Dr. Rod Opferkew
Dr. Rod Opferkew has over 23 years of chiropractic experience and focuses on identifying the root cause of pain before building a care plan around your needs.
Serving Bloomington And The Surrounding Twin Cities Communities
Riverview Spine is located in Bloomington, Minnesota, and treats pinched nerve and radiculopathy patients across Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and the surrounding south Twin Cities communities. Patients across the metro travel to the clinic specifically for spinal decompression on these cases.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pinched Nerves
Start Pinched Nerve Recovery At Riverview Spine
A pinched nerve does not have to lead to surgery, and it does not have to take over your daily life for months. Riverview Spine offers thorough evaluation to identify which nerve root is involved, combined with spinal decompression, chiropractic adjustments, and rehabilitation aimed at non-surgical resolution. Book an appointment to start the evaluation, or call the clinic to talk through your symptoms and find out whether decompression is a fit.