DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PINCHED NERVE AND MUSCLE STRAIN

Pulled muscles occur after strenuous activity. Also incorrect posture during activity, or muscle overextension for long durations. A pinched nerve is tissue being pressured prompting pain signal along the length of muscle. It can happen while sedentary too.

A pinched nerve is more frequent than a pulled muscle. A pinched nerve happens without strenuous activity. Awkward positions, like crossing legs for a long duration, is a regular cause of pinched nerves.

Initial treatment is the conventional RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) technique for swelling and inflammation. Cold therapy is 15 to 25 minutes every two hours, up to three days. After third day cold therapy is every three to four hours when using it.

Cold and hot therapy (compression) usually heals a pinched nerve quicker than a muscle pull. Pain for a pulled muscle can be several days.

A pulled muscle swells immediately and is tender to the touch. It is relative to major muscle of the anatomy like the back, chest, and shoulders.

A muscle group is over-stretched causing micro-fiber tear. Consequentially, a dull pain is relative to a micro-tear. Contrarily, a pinched nerve is tissue pressured excessively in one area.  Then a sensation traverses the length of the nerve. A pinched nerve typically feels like a tingling sensation that worsens to raw pain for several minutes. Regularly, a pinched nerve is not visible, unlike the swelling of a stretched muscle.

Differences of pain between a pinched nerve and a pulled muscle

Nerve pain

  • Ÿ  burning
  • Ÿ  stabbing
  • Ÿ  radiant tingling sensation

Muscle pain

  • Ÿ  tenderness
  • Ÿ  achiness
  • Ÿ  Stiffness

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