As you heal from a pinched nerve, the pain will weaken and may feel more like a dull, throbbing pain that occurs less often.
So how long does a pinched nerve cause pain and discomfort? In most cases, symptoms improve and nerve function resumes to normal within 6 to 12 weeks of conservative treatment. Conservative treatment options include physical therapy, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen.
In some rare cases, a pinched nerve can get worse and lead to prolonged weakness, tingling, or numbness in the arm, shoulder, or hand. In these cases, nerve restriction can lead to damage, which requires treatment to avoid permanent changes.
Nerve damage can be made worse by overuse. A person with a pinched nerve should avoid any movements that irritate the nerve. They should also try to sleep in a position that relieves the pressure on the nerve.
How do I know the nerve is recovering? As your nerve recovers, the area the nerve supplies may feel quite unpleasant and tingly. This may be accompanied by an electric shock sensation at the level of the growing nerve fibres; the location of this sensation should move as the nerve heals and grows.
You may experience tingling feelings and possibly sensations similar to electrical shock, which is a good sign of having new sensitive nerves. Whatever you feel during the journey, be sure to talk to your doctor about it during your follow-up appointments.
In most situations, a pinched nerve may last anywhere from a few days to a few months in severe scenarios. The best thing you can do to possibly reduce the time you're experiencing the pinched nerve issue is to seek the appropriate medical care as soon as possible.
Pinched nerve signs and symptoms include: Numbness or decreased sensation in the area supplied by the nerve. Sharp, aching or burning pain, which may radiate outward. Tingling, pins and needles sensations (paresthesia)
Pushing your body will only make your pinched nerve worse. Additionally, stop if you feel tingling or numbness in your arms or hands. It can also be helpful to avoid exercises that put a lot of tension on your neck. These include exercises like sit-ups, pull-ups, push-ups, and even bridges.
A pinched nerve can become serious, causing chronic pain, or even lead to permanent nerve damage. Fluid and swelling can do irreversible damage to the nerves, so be sure to contact your provider if your symptoms worsen or don't improve after several days.
Also called a pinched nerve, which describes the problem perfectly, this occurrence can lead to debilitating pain that places moderate-to-severe limitations on your ability to move freely.
The pain may come and go, but if it continues for more than a few days, you should definitely see a doctor.
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.
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.
If the nerve is mildly pinched but still functional, then it can recover function in a few hours or a few days. As the nerve compression gets more severe or if it has been compressed a long time, it can take months for nerves to improve. The nerve will regenerate better in younger patients than in older patients.
Pinched nerves can last from a few days to about a month, depending on how you treat it. It is typically a temporary condition that you can treat on your own, but it's important to not ignore long-lasting or acute pain as it could be the sign of a bigger problem.
Symptoms depend on which nerve is damaged, and whether the damage affects one nerve, several nerves, or the whole body. Tingling or burning in the arms and legs may be an early sign of nerve damage. These feelings often start in your toes and feet. You may have deep pain.
Seruya wants his patients to know that after a period of 12-18 months nerve damage can become permanent.
And what better way to get blood flow moving than with a good old fashioned walk. It's the perfect low-impact aerobic exercise for everyone. All you have to do is put one foot in front of the other. The more you exercise on a consistent basis, the better your chances are at reducing your nerve pain.
Working with Neuropathy
For those who work at a desk or in a sedentary environment, it may be more feasible to work, even with neuropathy pain. However, some people's symptoms will make it difficult for them to sit for an extended period, type on a computer, or do other tasks required of them.
Once this is damaged it is difficult to treat it because of the complexity of the nervous system. Medication in the form of painkillers etc can be used, but in a sense it is like using a sledgehammer to dial a telephone number.