• According to The Spine Universe website, a pinched nerve can cause severe back pain and other problems. Pinched nerves are often the result of an injury from a fall or car accident. Physical therapy and other treatments can correct the problem, but some people suffer with the pain for many years before finding relief. The scope of treatment depends on the extent of the damage.
  
  

Numbness

• A pinched nerve in the back can interfere with normal feeling, resulting in numbness and tingling in the arms or legs depending on the location of the nerves. If the injury is lower along the spine, the numbness typically radiates down the legs, and if the injury is higher up, the arms and hands can be affected.
  
  This causes a person to have a pins and needles type of feeling in their extremities, as if their arms or legs are going to sleep. This can also cause weakness in the arms and legs. This interferes with circulation. As the nerves heal this symptom can lesson or go away, especially with prompt treatment.
  
  

Muscle Spasms

• According to The Spine Universe website, muscle spasms are a symptom of a pinched nerve or several pinched nerves in the back and neck. The muscles will twitch in response to the pressure put on nerves. The spasms can be quite painful and prolonged depending on how many nerves are affected.
  
  If a person suffers from a pinched nerve and bulging disc, he may have a difficulty getting up in the morning, and this can interfere with his ability to work and perform daily tasks. Cortisone shots can help with the pain, but often physical therapy and chiropractic care are needed to fix the problem.
  
  

Hot and Cold Sensations

• A pinched nerve in the back disrupts circulation and normal nerve function. This can result in a feeling of hot and cold sensations in the arms, back and legs. To some people, this can be extreme while others worry more about the pain. The heat can feel as though the skin is burning. Medicated rubs or medications can be used to address the problem depending on how severe the symptoms are. The level of discomfort depends on how severe the injury is.
  
  

Shooting Pains

• The Laser Spine Institute says another symptom of a pinched nerve in the back is shooting pains down the leg and buttocks as well as other areas like the arms and fingers. Because everything in our body is connected, a pinched nerve can cause referred pain in other areas away from the actual pinched nerves. Nerves are huge pathways in the body and the spine is the cornerstone of mobility. If something is wrong with the back, it can affect the neck, arms and legs as well. The nerves are bundles of millions of fibers, so when they are damaged the result can be severe.