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Symptom FAQs

Q. Part of my hand feels numb and my arm just doesn't seem as strong as it should. Could this be from a pinched nerve?

A. Your symptoms may be a sign that a nerve is "pinched." The medical term for this is radiculopathy (ra-dick-you-lop-a-thee), which happens when a nerve is irritated from something rubbing or pressing on it. This can cause numbness in your skin, weakness in your muscles, and loss of reflexes in the area controlled by the nerve. Usual causes of radiculopathy include herniated discs and bone spurs. Other causes are tumors or fractures that cause pressure on one or more nerves.