pinched nerve

noun

plural pinched nerves

: a nerve or nerve root (as in the spine or wrist) that is compressed by surrounding tissue (as of tendon, bone, or cartilage) often as a result of injury, inflammation, or degenerative changes and that causes pain, tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness

Carpal tunnel syndrome caused by a pinched nerve in the wrist usually affects the thumb and index and middle fingers.

—Courtney Humphries

… has weathered agony in recent months because of the pinched nerves, which have sporadically sent sharp jolts of pain through his legs.

—Geoff Boucher

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

pinched nerve

noun

: a nerve or nerve root (as in the spine or wrist) that is compressed by surrounding tissue (as of tendon, bone, or cartilage) often as a result of injury, inflammation, or degenerative changes and that causes pain, tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness