When Spinal Nerves Get Compressed

Advances in keyhole surgery mean more options for pain relief from pinched nerves in the spine

- Akshita Nanda

Pinched spinal nerves can manifest as discomfort for a long time before suddenly incapacitating active people.

Take, for example, Mrs Jess O'Reilly, who had a niggling ache in her lower back for years. It did not stop her from enjoying high-intensity exercise. The 38-year-old thought the pain came from tight glute muscles and addressed it through deep tissue massage or physiotherapy. In 2025, she did the Tokyo Marathon in March and fitness competition Hyrox Singapore in June.

She had no idea that a few weeks later, the ache would suddenly turn into a severe pain that left her unable to stand easily, let alone walk.

"The thing that shocked me most was how quickly the downward spiral happened," she recalls of her experience in early July.

"It was a niggle, nothing that stopped me from achieving things. Then I woke up on a Monday and I could barely stand. I'd be walking hunched over or crawling. I was trying to take work calls in a foetal position," adds Mrs O'Reilly, an Australian who works for a human resources, finance and planning tech company in Singapore. She has been here since 2014 with her husband, who works in finance.

Similarly, Mr Jamshid Medora, who turns 85 in September, stays active despite age-related aches and pains. The retired accountant enjoys gardening and prides himself on doing chores like scrubbing the floor.

Then in October 2024, the Singaporean experienced excruciating pain in both legs. "I had to crawl on all fours to get to the loo and back," he recalls. "I was given powerful painkillers, but they didn't work."

Mrs O'Reilly's and Mr Medora's pains were caused by pinching or compression of spinal nerves because of changes to the spine. In her case, the problem was a herniated disc. In his case, it was age-related narrowing of the spinal canal, known as spinal stenosis, and bone spurs.