Home Remedies for pinched nerves Applying ice packs and heat is a good option. You may also consider taking a hot shower or bath or getting a professional massage. And over-the-counter pain relievers should lessen the severity of your discomfort.
Apply ice and heat
Start by icing for 15 minutes, then wait for 30 minutes before icing again. Once the inflammation calms down, heat can help relax any tense muscles near the pinched nerve. Heat can also stimulate blood flow, which can aid in healing. Try using a heating pad or a warm compress.
The most frequently recommended treatment for a pinched nerve is rest for the affected area. Your doctor will ask you to stop any activities that cause or aggravate the compression. Depending on the location of the pinched nerve, you may need a splint, collar or brace to immobilize the area.
While you want to remain physically active, stop any movement that causes pain intensity to spike. For a pinched nerve in the neck, you may be told to use a cervical collar for a brief period of time, as well as a cervical pillow while you sleep.
Try a gentle, relaxing Swedish massage, which will loosen up your tense muscles and may release the pressure around your nerve. You probably want to avoid deep tissue massage, since the deeper pressure may make the problem worse.
Pinched Nerve Pain is Usually Short-Lived
In most cases, symptoms improve and nerve function resumes to normal within 6 to 12 weeks of conservative treatment.
A pinched nerve frequently is associated with pain in the neck or lower back. This type of pain can be caused by inflammation or pressure on the nerve root as it exits the spine. If the pain is severe or lasts a long time, you may need to have further evaluation from your physician.
Healing and un-pinching
Most cases of pinched nerves go away on their own, with some rest. During the healing, avoid over-use of the affected area.
Exercise can go a long way toward taking the pain out of a pinched nerve in the neck. By strengthening and stretching the right muscles, your posture may change to help relieve pain, your movement becomes freer, and more space is created for a pinched or irritated nerve to move.
Elevate Your Legs: If your pinched nerve is located in the back, elevating your legs will help release pressure from the spine.
While anxiety cannot lead to nerve damage that causes pain, it can actually intensify nerve pain caused by injury or accidental nerve damage.
Hot temperatures can make pain feel worse, and for people with conditions like multiple sclerosis, heat can trigger Uhthoff's phenomenon, which causes worsening nerve pain. Cold temperatures can make joints feel stiffer and more painful, especially for people with arthritis.
Sleep on your side if you can as it can help reduce the unwanted symptoms from a pinched nerve. Be sure that your pillow isn't too thick or too thin. Side sleepers generally need thicker pillows so check your back to see if your spine is in a straight line while you are lying down.
Luckily, pinched nerves are treatable. A chiropractor from Specific Care Chiropractic can diagnose the cause of your nerve-related symptoms, treat the underlying problem, and help you experience symptom relief. We may use a range of adjustments and secondary treatments tailored to your healthcare needs.
A pinched nerve occurs when too much pressure (compression) is applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues. In some cases, this tissue might be bone or cartilage, such as in the case of a herniated spinal disk that compresses a nerve root. In other cases, muscle or tendons may cause the condition.
Pinched nerves usually get better in three to four days. However, if home care doesn't seem to help, you may need to see a medical expert. If the pressure on the nerve isn't relieved in a short amount of time, the nerve damage may become permanent, causing chronic pain and muscle weakness.
Steroid injections or oral corticosteroids can reduce swelling and inflammation, which reduces pain as a result. Surgery may be an option if these treatments fail to provide relief. The goal of surgery is to remove the damaged disc and relieve pressure on the nerve.
Recovery is a slow process, and the biggest thing you can do to regain nerve sensation and function is to move consistently. You may experience tingling feelings and possibly sensations similar to electrical shock, which is a good sign of having new sensitive nerves.
To achieve full recovery, the nerve must undergo three main processes: Wallerian degeneration (the clearing process of the distal stump), axonal regeneration, and end-organ reinnervation.
Nerve Pain Progression
Left untreated, nerve damage may worsen over time. It can sometimes start in the nerves farthest from the brain and spinal cord -- like those in the feet and hands.
Time and rest: For many people, time takes care of a pinched nerve and it doesn't need treatment. The pain should go away in a few days or weeks. Ice and heat: Apply ice and heat as you would with any swollen area for temporary relief.
If left untreated, a pinched nerve can cause severe complications, including permanent nerve damage.