If your primary care doctor is unable to diagnose the pinched nerve, you may need to see a neurologist or orthopedist.
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.
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.
A chiropractor can use adjustments to release a pinched nerve, addressing the root cause of the issue. This can help someone recover without requiring invasive procedures or medications that could otherwise lead to side effects.
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. You should also see a doctor if your pain doesn't respond to self-care measures, such as rest and over-the-counter pain relievers.
If a nerve is pinched for only a short time, there's usually no permanent damage. Once the pressure is relieved, nerve function returns to normal. However, if the pressure continues, chronic pain and permanent nerve damage can occur.
Pinched Nerve Diagnosis
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a doctor may take an X-ray, a computed tomography (CT) scan, or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to find the cause of the pinched nerve.
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.
Massage or physical therapy
Applying gentle pressure around the affected area may help relieve tension, and a full body massage can help the muscles relax. Deep tissue massages may not be a good idea because the extra pressure may make the symptoms worse.
MRI scans which show soft tissues, such as nerves and discs, are generally preferred over CT scans which show bony elements. Advanced imaging can show exactly which nerve or nerves are being pinched and what is causing the nerve to be pinched.
Without proper treatment, a pinched nerve can develop into more serious conditions such as peripheral neuropathy or disc degeneration. You may also have general illness and chronic pain as a result of an untreated pinched nerve.
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.
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.
Taking a break from any activities that may have caused the pinched nerve will be your best bet for healing quickly and entirely. Other times, over-the-counter pain medication may be a good idea to help ease the pain of the pinched nerve while it heals and you rest.
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.
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.
For the best results, keep the heat on the affected area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Take a minimum 30-minute break between sessions. If you find that it's helping, you can apply moderate heat to an area for up to an hour or more. Extended heat therapy is most beneficial for more severe pain from a pinched nerve.
If your pain from what you think is a pinched nerve lasts more than a couple of days, you should seek medical attention. Your pain is getting worse, despite trying the self-care treatment options mentioned above.
A pinched nerve in the neck—sometimes called a compressed nerve or a radiculopathy—happens when a vertebral bone or disc along your spine is damaged. Damage can occur from injury, arthritis, aging, and more.
Pinched nerves tingle (think “pins and needles”) while pulled muscles feel tighter and sore to the touch. Pinched nerve pain radiates to other areas around the affected nerve while pulled muscle pain typically stays localized in the area around the muscle. Pulled muscles swell while pinched nerves do not.
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.
One of the primary causes of pinched or compressed nerves is sleeping poorly, lack of adequate support and sleeping on ordinary (bad) pillows that push your head into an abnormal and flexed position.
Diagnostic tests for a pinched nerve
Usually, imaging such as ultrasound or MRI is used to find the cause of pressure on the nerve. But, increasingly, ultrasound is more valuable as it can detect pinched nerve changes such as nerve swelling.
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.