Physiotherapy is an important intervention for pinched nerve or nerve compression. As nerves exit the spine through holes called foramina, anything that encroaches into this space can put pressure or “pinch” the nerve. Nerve compression results in significant discomfort for patients.
The pain associated with a trapped nerve can be high, but most cases resolve with non-operative physiotherapy treatment in a few weeks.
In the acute stage (first 1–6 weeks), the treatment is a combination of pain-relieving medication for nerve pain prescribed by your GP, gentle physiotherapy and rest. Physiotherapy methods that have proven helpful to help ease the pain include gentle manual therapy and other treatment techniques.
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.
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. Conservative treatment options include physical therapy, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen.
Physiotherapy is an important intervention for pinched nerve or nerve compression. As nerves exit the spine through holes called foramina, anything that encroaches into this space can put pressure or “pinch” the nerve. Nerve compression results in significant discomfort for patients.
The answer is yes! By applying pressure to the pinched nerve, it can help relieve tension, reduce pain and inflammation and promote circulation. It will also help relax you, your muscles and the affected area as well.
If you have a pinched nerve now, generally stay away from anything that would put a strain on the nerve, no matter where it is. This includes high-intensity exercises, lifting heavy objects, or anything else that may cause sudden stress or pain in the body, as this could make the pinched nerve much worse.
A Chiropractor Can Help Release Your Pinched Nerve
If this is the case, these issues need to be realigned. That is where a chiropractor can help you. A chiropractor can use manual therapy to adjust the alignment of these body tissues. That way, the trapped nerve can be freed.
With rest and other conservative treatments, most people recover from a pinched nerve within a few days or weeks. Sometimes, surgery is needed to relieve pain from a pinched nerve.
Chiropractic is a great way to relieve pinched nerves – and it's something we can do for you today. Professional Chiropractors have an intimate understanding of the body and the nerves, and know where to apply pressure to reduce pain, relieve tension, and hasten recovery.
Talk with your doctor if you experience a pinched nerve that keeps coming back or lasts for longer than several days. Your doctor can order tests to determine the underlying causes of the nerve compression and help you with a treatment plan to help prevent lasting damage.
This causes symptoms such as sharp pain in your neck, shoulder, arm, hand, or back. You may also have tingling or numbness. Sometimes it makes your arm weaker. The symptoms may get worse when you turn your head, cough, or sneeze.
After light stretching, consider low-impact aerobic exercise such as walking, cycling and swimming. These activities will increase blood circulation to the damaged nerve, facilitating healing and reducing the pain associated with a pinched nerve.
Treating a Pinched Nerve
If you believe you may be suffering from a pinched nerve, you should always visit an orthopedic surgeon near you to ensure that is the problem and rule out any more serious spinal issues. These doctor visits can also help determine if a more chronic ailment, like spinal arthritis, is to blame.
Stretch It Out. A little stretching may be enough to ease some of your pinched nerve pain—a 2009 study in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy showed promising results. Stretching with gentle resistance, either using resistance bands or your own hands, can also be quite helpful.
You need to keep the pained area still, avoiding all movement that aggravates the pain. A good way to do this is with a splint along the pinched nerve. This gives it the protection it needs from any movement that might occur, intentional or by accident. With no movement, the nerve is free to heal on its own.
If you do have a pinched nerve, symptoms may include: Tingling or a pins and needles sensation. A sharp aching or burning pain that may radiate outward. Numbness or decreased feeling in the affected area.
If left untreated, the numbness, tingling, and burning caused by peripheral neuropathy will get worse over time. The damaged nerves will continue to send confusing messages to the brain more frequently until the spinal cord gets so used to sending the signals, it will continue to do it on its own.
While treating a pinched nerve, it is also important not to overuse the nerve. 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.
The combination of hot and cold increases the circulation of fresh blood to the area, which may help relieve pain. Hold an ice pack over the affected area for about 15 minutes at a time, three times a day to help reduce inflammation. Heat pads can be applied for a longer period, up to 1 hour, three times a day.
We recommend you to consult a doctor of chiropractic for an effective pinched nerve cure. Your body may be able to recover for a time, but you may need professional chiropractic help for long-term recovery.
Having a hot bath or shower, or using a heating pad for pinched nerve pain can help muscles relax, taking pressure off your nerves. Take NSAIDs. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or naproxen can help to numb pain and reduce inflammation so you can rest.