Treatment Options for a Pinched Nerve Your neurologist can relieve numbness and tingling by reducing the pressure on your nerves using one of the many neuropathy treatment options available. Your doctor will choose the right ones for you depending on your symptoms and their cause.
Pinched nerve surgeries are typically minimally invasive, making them quicker and easier to recover from. Depending on the area of the impingement, your neurosurgeon may choose to perform a microdiscectomy, foraminotomy or laminectomy, anterior cervical discectomy (with or without a fusion) or lumbar spine fusion.
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.
To determine whether you have a pinched nerve or something else, speak with a primary care doctor, neurologist or neurosurgeon. The doctor will ask you questions about your pain and medical history, and do a physical examination to determine if you have a pinched nerve or another issue.
Pinched Nerve Treatment
Treatment can be as simple as exercise or stretching to relieve the pressure. You can also apply heat to relax the tight muscles around the pinched nerve. Ice can reduce the swelling and inflammation. If those methods don't work, you can try a painkiller like ibuprofen or aspirin.
MRI. MRIs create images using a radiofrequency magnetic field, a technique that clearly shows pinched nerves, disc disease, and inflammation or infections in the spinal tissues. MRI is usually the preferred imaging for pinched nerves.
The pain may come and go, but if it continues for more than a few days, you should definitely see a doctor.
Surgery. If the pinched nerve doesn't improve after several weeks to a few months with conservative treatments, your doctor may recommend surgery to take pressure off the nerve. The type of surgery varies depending on the location of the pinched nerve.
The pressure affects the nerve's function and triggers symptoms ranging from sharp pain and numbness of the skin to weakness and tingling. If left untreated, a pinched nerve can cause severe complications, including permanent nerve damage.
Most cases of pinched nerves go away on their own, with some rest. During the healing, avoid over-use of the affected area. If certain movements cause pain, avoid those irritants if possible. Remember, there is inflammation compressing the nerves.
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.
Your provider will attach one or more electrodes to a certain nerve or nerves using tape or a paste. The electrodes, called stimulating electrodes, deliver a mild electrical pulse. Your provider will attach different types of electrodes to the muscle or muscles controlled by those nerves.
A nerve conduction study (NCS) is a diagnostic test that evaluates the function of your peripheral nerves. An NCS can help detect the presence and extent of peripheral nerve damage. Your peripheral nerves are the nerves that lie outside of your brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).
A neurologist is a medical doctor who diagnoses, treats and manages disorders of the brain and nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves). A neurologist knows the anatomy, function and conditions that affect your nerves and nervous system. Your nervous system is your body's command center.
The most common and least invasive treatment is to rest the area that is affected. Inflammation is your body's method of healing, and rest can give it time to work. Your doctor may also suggest physical therapy to strengthen the structures surrounding your spine.
When to see a doctor for a pinched nerve in your neck. While many cases of pinched nerve will resolve on their own with or without treatment, you should see your doctor if symptoms last for several days.
Your healthcare provider might suggest injections of steroid medicine in the area where a disk is herniated. Some people might benefit from surgery. During a surgical procedure called a discectomy, the surgeon removes all or part of the disk that is pressing on a nerve root.
Damage from a pinched nerve may be minor or severe. It may cause temporary or long-lasting problems. The earlier you get a diagnosis and treatment for nerve compression, the more quickly you'll find relief. In some cases, you can't reverse the damage from a pinched nerve.
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 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.
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.
L5 NERVE ROOT DAMAGE
This pain can come in the form of numbness, tingling, weakness and shooting and is commonly felt in the big toe, inside of the foot, top of the foot and ankle. Radiculopathy of the L5 nerve may also cause loss of coordination in the foot and toes.
Pinched nerve pain radiates to other areas around the affected nerve while pulled muscle pain typically stays localized in the area around the muscle.