Suffering from pinched nerves in the neck, back, arms or other parts of the body is sometimes very painful. This condition can also prevent you from carrying out your usual daily activities. A pinched nerve occurs when surrounding tissue such as bone, cartilage, tendon, or muscle becomes trapped or abnormally presses on the nerve. Either at home or with the help of a doctor, you can treat yourself and deal with the pain by knowing how to treat this condition.
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Method 1 of 3: Get Immediate Treatment for a Pinched Nerve at Home
Step 1. Recognize the condition of the pinched nerve
This condition occurs when a nerve is injured for some reason and is unable to send signals completely. These nerves can be compressed due to a herniated disc (herniated disc), arthritis, or bone spurs (bone spurs). You can also experience pinched nerves from other situations and activities such as injuries, poor posture, repetitive movements, sports, hobbies, and obesity. Pinched nerves can occur anywhere in the body, although they are more common in the spine, neck, wrists, and elbows.
- This condition causes inflammation, which can narrow the nerves and squeeze them.
- Poor nutrition and health can exacerbate a pinched nerve.
- This condition can be reversed or reversed, depending on the seriousness of the case.
Step 2. Watch for symptoms
A pinched nerve is basically a physical obstruction to the body's tissue system. Symptoms of a pinched nerve generally include numbness, minor swelling, stabbing pain, tingling, muscle spasms, and muscle weakness. A pinched nerve is commonly associated with a stabbing sensation in the affected area.
These symptoms occur because the nerves are unable to transmit signals effectively throughout the body due to certain pressure or obstruction
Step 3. Avoid overuse
After diagnosing a pinched nerve, you need to start self-care. You should avoid using the affected body part, or use it less frequently. Repeated use of muscles, joints, and tendons that put pressure on nerves will make it worse. This is because the area around it continues to swell and narrow the nerve. The easiest way to get immediate treatment for a pinched nerve is to rest the nerve and the area around it until the swelling and pressure subside completely.
- You should not stretch and move the area of the pinched nerve so you don't squeeze it further. There are certain movements that can cause your symptoms to worsen immediately, and these movements should be avoided wherever possible.
- If certain movements or positions cause symptoms and pain to increase, do not use the injured area and do not perform the movement.
- In the case of the carpal tunnel, a common injury caused by pinched nerves, keeping the wrist straight while sleeping and avoiding bending the joint will relieve pain from any pressure.
Step 4. Get enough sleep
Sleeping a few more hours is a natural way for the body to repair the damage. If necessary, take time to sleep a few more hours each night until you feel better or until the pain subsides. An extra two hours of rest for the body and the injured area can help reduce symptoms significantly.
It works directly by limiting the use of the affected body part. If you sleep longer, you move less. Not only will you avoid using the affected body part, but your body will also have a longer healing time with sleep
Step 5. Use a brace or splint
There will be times when you can't rest the affected nerve as long as you want because of work, school or other obligations. If this applies, you can use a brace or splint to prevent movement of the injured area. This can allow you to do basic work as usual.
- For example, if the pinched nerve is in the neck, use a neck brace to help keep the muscles still throughout the day.
- If your pinched nerve is the result of carpal tunnel syndrome, use a wrist or elbow brace, also known as a volar carpal splint, to avoid unnecessary movement.
- These splints can be found in drug stores. Follow the instructions that came with the splint. If you have questions or concerns, see your doctor for additional help.
Step 6. Apply ice or heat
A pinched nerve is often accompanied by swelling, and this condition can put further pressure on the nerve. To help reduce swelling and improve circulation, rotate between periods of applying ice and heat to the area of the pinched nerve. This method is called hydrotherapy. Apply ice for 15 minutes 3-4 times a day to help reduce inflammation. After that, apply the heat pad to the pinched area for 1 hour, 4-5 times a week until the symptoms improve.
- Apply an ice pack, either store-bought or homemade, over the affected area with a little pressure. This pressure will help cool the pinched area. Use a soft cloth between the ice pack and your skin to avoid scalding from the cold. Do not use it for more than 15 minutes as it can decrease blood flow, which slows healing.
- Use a hot water bottle or heat pad after applying the ice to encourage blood flow, which can help speed up the healing process. Do not heat for more than an hour as this can increase inflammation.
- You can also take a hot shower or douse a pinched nerve with hot water to relax the muscles around the area and increase blood flow.
Step 7. Call the masseuse
Applying pressure to the pinched nerve can help relieve tension and reduce pain. A full body massage can help induce relaxation in the muscles, as well as relax the pinched area. You can also gently massage the area around the pinched nerve. This will provide some relief and help the nerves to heal.
- You can also massage the affected area yourself to relieve pain. Gently massage the area with your fingers to increase blood flow and loosen muscles that may be contributing to pressure on the nerve.
- Avoid intense deep tissue massage or firm pressure as this can apply unnecessary pressure and exacerbate the pinched nerve.
Step 8. Take the medicine
Many over-the-counter painkillers are good for treating a pinched nerve. Try taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin to reduce swelling and pain.
Follow the instructions that came with your medication and review all warnings. Consult your doctor if you are unsure about the dosage or side effects of a medication, especially if you have health problems or are taking other medications
Step 9. Visit a doctor
If your symptoms and pain subside but continue to recur over a period of weeks or months, seek help from your doctor. While the symptoms that have been suggested at first may help, if these are no longer comfortable, you will need to have the affected nerve checked.
- You may also see a doctor if you experience constant numbness or pain in the area despite minimal use or if the muscles in the affected area become weaker over time.
- Seek immediate treatment if symptoms are serious or the affected area feels cold, appears very pale or blue.
Method 2 of 3: Treating Pinched Nerves at Home Long-Term
Step 1. Perform low-power exercises
You can rest the pinched nerve but still keep the blood pumping. Good blood and oxygen circulation and strong muscles can help heal pinched nerves. Daily activities should be carried out conservatively and only when it is comfortable for you. Try swimming or go for a walk. This will help move your muscles naturally while minimizing stress on the joints and tendons where the pinched nerve is located.
- Lack of movement can lead to a loss of muscle strength and lead to a much longer healing process for the pinched nerve.
- Maintain good posture while exercising or resting. This will help relieve tension in the area of the pinched nerve.
- Maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent pinched nerves.
Step 2. Increase your calcium intake
One of the underlying factors for a pinched nerve is a lack of calcium. You should start eating more calcium-rich foods such as dairy products, namely milk, cheese, and yogurt, as well as leafy greens such as spinach and kale. It can help the nerves and also improve your overall health.
- You can also take calcium as a supplement. You can buy this ingredient from many health food stores, grocery stores, or pharmacies to take daily. Follow the directions for use or consult your doctor if you are not sure how much calcium to take. Never take more than recommended.
- Check labels to check if the food is fortified with calcium. Many brands offer calcium-rich products as an addition to the daily diet.
Step 3. Eat more foods that contain potassium
Potassium is a key ion that plays a role in cell metabolism. Because it can weaken the connections between nerves, potassium deficiency can cause symptoms of a pinched nerve. Increasing the intake of potassium in the diet can help restore balance to nerve function and relieve these symptoms.
- Potassium-rich foods include apricots, bananas, avocados, and nuts. Drinking fluids such as skim milk and orange juice can help increase potassium absorption.
- Potassium supplements, such as calcium supplements, can be taken regularly in addition to a healthy diet. Talk to your doctor before taking potassium supplements, especially if you have other health problems (especially problems with your kidneys) or are taking other medicines. Your doctor may want to check the level of potassium in your blood before recommending a supplement.
- Potassium deficiency is diagnosed by a doctor. To help correct a potassium deficiency, your doctor may recommend a diet with a higher potassium intake after determining the underlying cause. Consult a doctor if you suspect this could be a problem.
Method 3 of 3: Treating a Pinched Nerve with the Help of a Doctor
Step 1. Visit a physical therapist
If you have a problem and nothing else works, you might consider seeing a physical therapist. The therapist can give you specific stretches and exercises that can help heal a pinched nerve. This particular exercise can loosen the pressure on the pinched nerve, which will help reduce pain. Many of the stretching movements used in this healing process must be done with a trained professional or a partner, so don't do it alone.
Over time, your physical therapist may provide additional exercises that you can do on your own. Do not do this exercise yourself unless you are instructed to do so
Step 2. Consider an epidural steroid injection
This treatment, which is primarily used to treat a pinched sciatic nerve, can relieve pain and help heal the nerve. This treatment includes steroid injections in the spine and can only be injected by a doctor. After the doctor evaluates the seriousness and type of condition, the therapist can discuss these options with you.
Epidural steroid injections can be a quick and effective way to relieve pain. If this procedure is performed by a trained medical professional, the chances of side effects and harm are small. However, rare side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, backache and bleeding at the injection site
Step 3. Talk to your doctor about possible surgery
For significant pain or symptoms that do not improve with other treatments, surgery on the area of the pinched nerve may be the best treatment. This surgery can relieve pressure or remove the area that is pinching the nerve. Surgery generally provides relief after recovery. Pinched nerves can recur but are generally rare.
- A pinched nerve in the wrist may require cutting the muscle tissue to relieve pressure in the area.
- A pinched nerve caused by a herniated disc can be cured by removing part or all of the disc, followed by spinal stabilization.
Step 4. Try to find ongoing treatment
Even after symptoms have subsided, it is important to continue to exercise, maintain proper body mechanics and good posture, and avoid the risk factors previously mentioned. Recovery from a pinched nerve depends on a number of factors, including the extent of the nerve impact, the continuity of the treatment procedure, and the underlying disease process.
Full recovery is common with pinched nerves in the back. Acute low back pain caused by a pinched nerve generally subsides within 6 weeks with specific treatment in 90% of individuals
Step 5. Avoid pinched nerves in the future
Some pinched nerves will heal completely and in most people, symptoms will improve with proper treatment. To prevent the same injury, avoid repetitive movements that previously caused a pinched nerve. The most important thing you can do is listen to your body. If movement begins to cause discomfort or symptoms of a pinched nerve appear, stop and allow the affected area to heal.
- Talk to your doctor about plans and actions to treat and balance proper use of the pinched area, rest, and isolation of the affected nerve area.
- Using braces as a preventative measure before a pinched nerve can help.
Tips
- If symptoms appear suddenly or after an injury, seek immediate medical attention.
- The time it takes for a pinched nerve to heal completely depends on the amount of damage to the nerve. Because nerves gradually heal from top to bottom, it can take weeks to months to heal completely.
- If you have back pain, see an osteopath or orthopedist who can perform spinal engineering. This treatment releases pressure on the diseased nerve to heal it.
