How to Cure a Pinched Nerve

A pinched nerve in your neck, back, arms, or other areas of your body can be quite painful and prevent you from participating in normal daily activities. A nerve is pinched when surrounding tissue becomes trapped or abnormally presses on a nerve. ^{[1] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source} In this wikiHow article, you will learn how to treat a pinched nerve.

Table of Contents

Temporary Self-Treatment of Pinched Nerve

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Recognize signs of a pinched nerve. It is a condition in which a nerve is damaged in such a way that it cannot adequately transmit signals. The cause of nerve compression originates from herniated disc disease, rheumatism or bone spurs. Nerve compression can also occur in other situations or everyday activities, such as injury, poor posture, repetitive manipulation, playing sports, hobbies, and other situations. obesity status. Nerves can be pinched anywhere in the body, though most commonly in the spine, neck, wrists, and elbows.

These causes swelling and thus compression of the nerve.
Poor nutrition and poor general health also make the pinched nerve worse.
It may or may not be curable, depending on the severity. ^{[2] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}^{[3] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Notice the symptoms. In fact, a pinched nerve is a blockage in the body’s signal transmission system, so its symptoms often include numbness, slight swelling, sharp pain, tingling, muscle spasms and pain. weak muscles. In addition, the pinched nerve is also associated with sudden pain in the affected area.

These symptoms occur because the nerves cannot send enough signals through the body, due to pressure or blockage there. ^{[4] X Domino Research Source , F. (nd). The 5-minute clinical consult standard 2015 (23rd ed.).}

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Avoid using too much. If you are diagnosed with a pinched nerve, you must take care of yourself, avoid using that part of your body or use it less. Repeated use of muscles, joints or ligaments that have caused nerve compression will aggravate the problem. The reason is because the surrounding area continues to swell more and tighten the nerve. The easiest way to relieve pain is to rest that nerve and the area around it, until the swelling and compression are mostly gone.

You should avoid stretching or shifting the area where the pinched nerve is located so as not to squeeze the nerve further. There are certain movements that make symptoms worse, and they should be avoided whenever possible.
If a certain movement or position worsens symptoms and pain, you must isolate the injured site and avoid the movement.
In the case of carpal tunnel syndrome, which is a common injury caused by a pinched nerve, you should keep your wrist straight while you sleep, avoiding flexing the wrist joint so as not to create any pressure. ^{[5] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Sleep more. Overtime sleep is a natural way for the body to correct its own deficiencies. If necessary, you should sleep more each night until you feel better or the pain subsides. Letting the body and the injured area rest for a few more hours will significantly reduce symptoms.

This method is directly related to the limited use of the injured body part. If you sleep a lot, of course less movement, you not only limit the use of the injured area, but also give your body more time to heal.

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Use a brace or brace device. There are times when you just can’t let your injury rest to your liking because of work, school, or other obligations. If this is the case, you should wear a brace or brace to immobilize the injury, so you can do the same basic tasks as you normally would.

For example, if you have a pinched nerve in your neck, you should wear a neck brace to keep your neck muscles still throughout the day.
If carpal tunnel syndrome is causing the nerve to be pinched, you should wear a wrist or elbow brace, also known as a carpal splint, to avoid unnecessary movement. ^{[6] X Research Source Agabegi, S. (2013). Step-up to medicine (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Wpters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.}
You can buy a splint at most drugstores and be sure to follow the instructions for use. If you have any questions or concerns, you should consult your doctor.

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Apply cold and hot. Nerve compression is often accompanied by swelling, and swelling will compress the nerve more severely. To reduce swelling and increase blood circulation you should alternate between hot and cold on the injured area, which is also called hydrotherapy. Apply ice for 15 minutes at a time, 3-4 times a day to reduce swelling. Then apply a heating pad to the area of the injury for 1 hour, 4-5 nights a week until the symptoms subside.

Gently press the ice pack over the area of the injury, you can use homemade or store-bought ice packs. Pressure will aid in cooling, but you must insert a soft cloth between the ice pack and the skin to prevent frostbite. Do not apply continuously for more than 15 minutes because it slows down blood circulation, affecting the healing process.
After applying the cold compress, use a hot water bottle or heating pad to stimulate blood circulation again, helping to speed up the healing process. Do not apply heat for more than an hour as swelling may worsen.
You can also take a hot bath or pour hot water on the pinched nerve to relax the muscles here, increasing blood circulation. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

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Massage. Apply pressure to the pinched nerve to release tension and relieve pain. You should massage your whole body to relax all muscles, including the injured area. In addition, gentle massage in the area near the pinched nerve is also a solution, helping to reduce local pain and heal faster.

You can also massage the injury yourself to relieve pain, by gently massaging with your fingers to increase blood circulation and relax muscles, which can be the cause of nerve compression.
Avoid massaging the underlying tissues or massaging vigorously as unnecessary pressure will worsen the pinched nerve. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Take medicines. Many over-the-counter pain relievers are very effective for pinched nerves. You should try taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin to reduce swelling and pain.

Be sure to follow the directions that come with the medication and carefully review the warnings. Consult your doctor if you are unsure about the dose or side effects of a medication, especially if you have other health problems or are taking other medications.

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See a doctor. If symptoms and pain ease but then return after weeks or months, you should see your doctor for help. Even if the above methods work for the first time, if they no longer work then you should go to the hospital for a check-up.

You should also see a doctor if you often feel numbness or pain in this area despite very little exercise, or the muscles in that area are getting weaker and weaker.
Seek immediate treatment if symptoms worsen or the area feels cold, becomes pale or blue.

Long-term Self-Treatment of Pinched Nerve

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Do low-impact exercises. You can let that nerve rest but still make sure to pump enough blood. Good blood circulation, adequate oxygen supply and toned muscles are factors that promote faster nerve healing. You should engage in daily activities judiciously and as you see fit. Try swimming or going for a walk as they naturally move the muscles and put very little pressure on the joints and ligaments where the nerve is pinched.

Being sedentary can cause muscles to lose strength, prolonging the healing time of that nerve. ^{[9] X Research Source Domino, F. (nd). The 5-minute clinical consult standard 2015 (23rd ed.).}^{[10] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}
Maintain proper posture when exercising or resting to relieve tension at the site of the pinched nerve.
Maintain a healthy weight to avoid pinched nerves.

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Increase calcium intake. One of the factors behind nerve compression is calcium deficiency. You should start eating foods high in calcium such as dairy products, such as milk, cheese, yogurt, and green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale. Providing calcium supports the healing process of nerves, while improving the general condition of health.

You can take calcium supplements bought from health food stores or drugstores and take them regularly every day. Remember to take as directed or consult your doctor if you are not sure how much calcium to take. Never take more than the recommended dose.
Check the labels of prepackaged foods to see if they are fortified with calcium. Many brands offer calcium supplements in addition to the regular ones.

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Eat more foods containing potassium. Potassium is the main ion involved in cellular metabolism. Because a lack of potassium weakens the connections between the nerves, this is sometimes the cause of more severe pinched nerve symptoms. Increase the amount of potassium in the diet to restore normal nerve function and treat disease symptoms.

Potassium-rich foods include apricots, bananas, avocados, and nuts. Drinking skim milk and orange juice also helps increase potassium absorption.
Similar to calcium, potassium supplements can also be taken on a regular schedule in addition to a normal diet. You should consult your doctor before taking potassium supplements, especially if you have other health problems (especially kidney disease), or if you are taking other medications. They are likely to have to check blood potassium levels before recommending potassium supplements.
Diagnosis of potassium deficiency. To correct a potassium deficiency, your doctor will recommend a diet with a higher potassium content after assessing the underlying cause of the problem. You should consult your doctor if you suspect you have a potassium deficiency. ^{[11] X Research Source}^{[12] X Research Source}

With a Doctor Treating Pinched Nerves

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See a physiotherapist. If you have a pinched nerve for which there is no effective treatment, consider seeing a physical therapist. She can teach you exercises or stretches to help damaged nerves heal faster. Certain exercises relieve pressure on nerves and relieve pain. Whereas with many stretches, you have to work with a professional or a partner, so you shouldn’t do it on your own.

After a while, your doctor will give you some more exercises to do on your own. Do not do any exercises on your own unless they give you permission to do so.

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Consider anesthetic steroid injections. This method is mainly used to cure pinched sciatic nerve, it can relieve pain and heal injured nerve. The doctor injects a dose of steroid into the spine, and absolutely only a doctor can inject it. After assessing the severity and type of nerve compression, they will discuss this treatment option with you. ^{[13] X Research Source Domino, F. (nd). The 5-minute clinical consult standard 2015 (23rd ed.).}

An epidural steroid injection is an effective and quick way to relieve pain. If performed by a medical professional, this method is unlikely to cause any side effects or dangers. Although rare, there are occasional side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, back pain, and bleeding at the injection site. ^{[14] X Research Source}

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Discuss the possibility of surgery. For cases of severe pain or other methods that cannot alleviate symptoms, surgery of the pinched nerve is the best option. The goal of surgery is to relieve pressure or remove the area that is compressing the nerve. Usually surgery will relieve symptoms immediately after recovery. Compression can recur, but it is rare.

For a pinched nerve in the wrist, surgery is often performed to sever muscle tissue and remove pressure in that area.
In the case of a herniated disc causing the nerve to be pinched, the doctor can fix it by removing part or all of the disc, then immobilizing the spine. ^{[15] X Research Sources Agabegi, S. (2013). Step-up to medicine (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Wpters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.}^{[16] X Research Source Domino, F. (nd). The 5-minute clinical consult standard 2015 (23rd ed.).}^{[17] X Research Source}

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Try to maintain the results of treatment. After the symptoms are gone, you still need to exercise, keep your body shape and work properly, avoid the risk factors discussed above. The recovery of a pinched nerve depends on a number of factors such as the extent of the nerve impingement, maintenance of the treatment regimen, and any medical treatment that was the primary cause of the compression. nerve.

Nerves in the back are easiest to fully recover. Acute lower back pain caused by nerve compression usually resolves within 6 weeks of focused treatment in 90% of patients. ^{[18] X Research Source Domino, F. (nd). The 5-minute clinical consult standard 2015 (23rd ed.).}

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Avoid nerve compression in the future. Most cases of nerve compression make a full recovery, and in most patients symptoms will subside with proper treatment. To avoid injury recurrence, you should not repeat movements that previously caused nerve compression. The most important thing you should do is listen to your body. If something causes discomfort or gives rise to symptoms of a pinched nerve, you should stop at that point, to give the uncomfortable area time to heal.

Discuss with your doctor a plan and regimen of care for the injury, balancing use, rest, and isolating the newly recovered nerve.
It is also helpful to use a brace as a preventive measure before the nerve is pinched.

Advice

If symptoms appear suddenly or appear after an accident, you need immediate medical attention.
The time it takes for a pinched nerve to fully recover depends on the extent of its damage. Because nerve injuries heal from the top down, it can take weeks to months to fully heal.
If you have back pain, you should see a doctor or chiropractor who can adjust the spine. This method releases pressure on the nerve to treat the injury.

Steps

Temporary Self-Treatment of Pinched Nerve

Long-term Self-Treatment of Pinched Nerve

With a Doctor Treating Pinched Nerves

Advice

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