Content

• Steps
• Advice

Pinched nerves in your neck, back, arms or other areas of your body can be quite painful, in addition to preventing you from participating in normal daily activities. A nerve is blocked when surrounding tissue becomes trapped or abnormally pressed against the nerve. In this article, wikiHow teaches you how to treat a pinched nerve.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Temporarily Self-Treatment A Pinched Nerve

1. 

   Know if a nerve is pinched. It is a nerve damaged in a way that prevents it from transmitting enough signals. The cause of the nerve insertion originates from disc herniation, rheumatism, or bone spikes. Nerve compression can also occur in other situations or everyday activities, such as during injury, erroneous posture, repetitive manipulation, sports, hobbies, and love. obesity. Nerves can be inserted anywhere in the body, though most commonly the spine, neck, wrists, and elbows.
   • These causes swelling and thus a compression of the nerve.
   • Poor nutrition and poor general health also make nerve compression worse.
   • The illness can or may not be treated, depending on the severity.

2. 

   
   
   Watch for symptoms. In fact, a pinched nerve is a blockage in the body's signaling system, so its symptoms often include a feeling of numbness, slight swelling, throbbing pain, tingling, muscle spasms and Weak muscles. In addition, a pinched nerve has also been associated with sudden pain in the affected area.
   • The reason for these symptoms is because the nerve can not send the full signal through the body, due to being forced or blocked there.

3. 

   
   
   Avoid overuse. If you can diagnose that you have a pinched nerve, you must take care of yourself, avoid using that part of the body or use less. Continued use of a muscle, joint or ligament causes a pinched nerve to aggravate the problem. This is because the surrounding area continues to swell more and tighten the nerve. The easiest way to relieve the pain is to rest the nerve and the area around it, until the swelling and compression are almost gone.
   • You should avoid stretching or moving where the pinched nerve is located so that you don't constrain the nerve further. There is some movement that aggravates the symptoms, and you should avoid doing them whenever possible.
   • If a movement or posture exacerbates the symptoms and pain, isolate the affected site and avoid the movement.
   • In the case of carpal tunnel syndrome, a common injury caused by a pinched nerve, you should keep your wrists straight while you sleep, avoiding bending your wrists so that you don't put any pressure.

4. 

   
   
   Sleep more. Sleeping overtime is a natural way for the body to fix its defects on its own. 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 approach is directly related to limiting the use of traumatic parts of the body. If you sleep a lot then of course the movement will be less, you not only limit the use of the injured area but also give your body more time to heal.

5. 

   Use a bracing or brace device. There are times when you may not be able to rest as much as you want because of work, school, or other obligations. If this is the case, 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, wear a neck brace to keep your neck muscles still throughout the day.
   • If carpal tunnel syndrome is causing a pinched nerve, you should wear a wrist brace or elbow brace, also known as a wrist brace, to avoid unnecessary movement.
   • You can buy a brace at most drugstores and be sure to follow the directions for use. If you have any questions or concerns, you should consult your doctor.

6. 

   Apply cold and hot compresses. Nerve insertion is often accompanied by swelling, which causes more pressure on the nerve cord. To reduce swelling and increase blood circulation, you should apply heat and cold alternately on the injured area, also known as hydrotherapy. Apply ice for 15 minutes at a time, 3-4 times a day to reduce swelling. Then apply a heating pad to the affected area for 1 hour, 4-5 nights a week until the symptoms subside.
   • Gently press the ice pack on top of the injury. You can use an ice pack yourself or buy from a store. The pressure will aid in cooling, but you must insert a soft cloth between the ice pack and skin to prevent cold burns. Do not apply for more than 15 minutes continuously because it slows down blood circulation, affecting the healing process.
   • After applying cold compresses, you use a hot water bottle or heating pad to stimulate blood circulation again, helping to speed up the healing process. Do not apply hot for more than an hour as the swelling may worsen.
   • You can also take a hot shower or pour hot water on the pinched nerve to relax the muscles here, increasing blood circulation.

7. 

   Massage. Put pressure on the pinched nerve to release tension and relieve pain. You should do a full body massage to relax all the muscles, including the injured area. In addition, a gentle massage in the area near the pinched nerve is also a solution, helping to relieve local pain and heal the nerve faster.
   • You can also massage the injury yourself to relieve pain, by gently massaging it with your fingers to increase blood week and relax the muscles, which may be the cause of nerve compression.
   • Avoid massaging deep tissues or massaging your hands as unnecessary pressure will worsen pinching of the nerve.

8. 

   Take medicines. Many over-the-counter pain relievers work very well with pinched nerve. Try nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin to reduce swelling and pain.
   • Be sure to follow the medication instructions and watch the warning carefully. Consult your doctor if you are unsure of the dosage or side effects of the medication, especially if you have other health problems or are taking other medications.

9. 

   See a doctor. If your symptoms and pain subside but then return after weeks or months, you should see your doctor for support. Although the methods above seem to be effective in the first place, if they no longer work, you should check with the hospital afterwards.
   • You should also seek medical attention if you experience frequent numbness or pain in the area, regardless of the movement, or the weakness in the muscles in the area.
   • Get immediate treatment if symptoms get worse or the area feels cold, turns pale, or blue.
   advertisement

Part 2 of 3: Long-term Self-Treatment A Pinched Nerve

1. 

   Do a low impact exercise. You can rest the nerve but still make sure to pump enough blood. Good blood circulation, adequate oxygen supply and toned muscles are all factors that promote faster nerve healing. Participate in daily activities cautiously and when it is okay to do so. Try swimming or walking because they help with muscle movement naturally with very little pressure on joints and ligaments, where nerves are pinched.
   • Inactivity can cause the muscles to lose strength, prolonging the healing time of that nerve.
   • Maintain proper posture during exercise or rest to reduce the tension where the nerve is pinched.
   • Maintain a healthy weight to avoid pinched nerves.

2. 

   Increase calcium intake. One of the factors behind nerve insertion is a lack of calcium. Start with foods high in calcium such as dairy products, such as milk, cheese, yogurt, and green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale. Providing calcium supports the healing process of nerves, while improving the general state of health.
   • You can take calcium supplements purchased from clean food stores or drugstores and take them regularly every day. Remember to take it as directed or consult your doctor if you are unsure how much calcium to take. Never take more than the recommended dose.
   • Check the labels of pre-packaged foods to see if they are fortified with calcium. Many brands offer calcium supplements in addition to the regular ones.

3. 

   Eat more foods containing potassium. Potassium is the main ionic involved in cellular metabolism. Because a lack of potassium weakens the connections between the nerves, this is sometimes the cause of the nerve compression.Increase the amount of potassium in the diet to restore the normal functioning of the nerves and treat disease symptoms.
   • Potassium-rich foods include apricots, bananas, avocados and nuts. Drinking skim milk and orange juice also increases the amount of potassium absorbed.
   • 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. It is likely that they will have to test their blood potassium levels before recommending an additional amount of potassium.
   • Diagnosis of potassium deficiency. To correct 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 that you have a potassium deficiency.
   advertisement

Part 3 of 3: The same doctor Treating a pinched nerve

1. 

   See a physical therapist. If you have a pinched nerve and there is no effective treatment, consider seeing a physical therapist. She can teach you exercises or stretches to help the damaged nerve heal faster. Certain exercises reduce the pressure on the nerves and relieve pain. Whereas with many stretches, you have to practice with an expert or practice partner, so you should not do it yourself.
   • After a while, your doctor will instruct you more on some exercises to do on your own. Don't do any exercises yourself unless they let you do it.

2. 

   Consider injecting anesthetic steroids. This method is mainly used to cure sciatica, it can relieve pain and heal an injured nerve. Doctors inject a dose of steroid into the spine, and absolutely only a doctor can inject. After assessing the severity and type of the pinched nerve, they will discuss this treatment option with you.
   • An epidural steroid injection is an effective and fast way to relieve pain. If done 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.

3. 

   Discuss possible surgery. For severe pain or other methods that are not able to alleviate the symptoms, surgery for a pinched nerve is the best option. The purpose of surgery is to relieve pressure or to remove the area that is causing the nerve to be pinched. Usually, surgery will eliminate all of the symptoms immediately after recovery. Compression can come back, but rarely occurs.
   • For a pinched nerve in the wrist, surgery is usually done to cut the muscle tissue and remove the pressure in that area.
   • In the case of a herniated disc causing nerve to be inserted, the doctor corrects it by removing part or all of the disc, then fixing the spine.

4. 

   Try to maintain treatment results. After the symptoms are gone, you still need to exercise, keep your body shape and working posture balanced, avoiding the risk factors discussed above. Recovery of a pinched nerve depends on a number of factors such as the degree of impact on the nerve, the maintenance of the treatment regimen, and any other medical processes that are the primary cause of the pinched nerve. nerve.
   • The nerves in the back are most easily recovered. Acute lower back pain caused by pinched nerve usually resolves within 6 weeks of intensive therapy in 90% of patients.

5. 

   Avoid pinched nerve in the future. Most nerve insertion is completely reversible, and in most patients symptoms subside with proper treatment. To avoid the injury again, do not repeat the movements that were previously the cause of the pinched nerve. The most important thing you should do is listen to your body. If something is uncomfortable or causes symptoms of a pinched nerve, stop at that time to give the uncomfortable area time to recover.
   • Discuss with your doctor a plan and regimen of care for the trauma, balancing use, rest, and isolating newly restored nerve.
   • It is also helpful to use a brace as a preventative measure before a nerve is inserted.
   advertisement

Advice

• If symptoms suddenly appear or appear after an accident, you should seek immediate medical attention.
• The time it takes for a pinched nerve to recover completely depends on the extent to which it is damaged. Since a nerve injury heals from the top, it can take anywhere from weeks to months to completely heal.
• If you have back pain, you should see a physician or a chiropractor who can adjust the spine. This method releases pressure on the nerve to treat the injury.