Pinched Nerve

This is the colloquial term for pain caused by pressure on the spinal cord or on a nerve root as it exits the spinal canal. This pressure may be caused by a bulging or herniated disc, or a narrowing of the spinal canal due to growth of extra bone (stenosis). In cases of spondylolisthesis, a defective or cracked vertebra slips forward and may irritate the nerve root. Sciatica is the most common example of a pinched nerve.