Pinched nerves occur when the nerves that exit the spinal cord in your neck become compressed or irritated. Symptoms include pain, tingling sensations, and changes in muscle strength.
Fortunately, conservative pinched nerve treatment near me can help you relieve symptoms and restore nerve function. These include heat therapy, physical therapy, and medication to manage pain and inflammation.
Relieves Pain and Inflammation
The vertebrae in your spine form a canal via which nerves run from your brain down your spinal cord. They then split off and travel between each vertebrae to reach your trunk and limbs. A pinched nerve impairs normal function and might result in tingling, discomfort, or other symptoms.
You can relieve these symptoms with self-care techniques and over-the-counter medications. You may also need to change your activities or positions that put pressure on the affected nerve.
Try sitting or resting in various positions until you discover one that relieves your back or neck discomfort, for instance. Additionally, you can use heat to the region to assist reduce pain and inflammation by relaxing tense muscles and boosting blood flow. You can use a warm, damp cloth or an electric heating pad.
Increases Mobility
Pinched nerves in the neck or back can reduce mobility. They occur when the nerves that exit the spinal cord through spaces in the vertebrae become compressed or irritated, often due to herniated discs and spinal stenosis.
Physiotherapy addresses these issues by reducing pain and promoting movement. They can also help improve posture and align the spine. This can alleviate nerve pressure and prevent future occurrences of pinched nerves.
Providers will conduct a physical exam to diagnose the source of your pain. They will test your reflexes and ask about different sensations in the affected areas. They may also recommend imaging tests, like X-rays, CT scans, and MRI. These can show the nerve’s location and the compression’s extent. Other tests may include blood work, electromyography (EMG), and nerve conduction studies.
Strengthens Muscles
Whether a pinched nerve decides to skedaddle or not, regular exercise and stretching can help prevent the recurrence of symptoms. Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications can also relieve pain and help reduce swelling.
A herniated or ruptured disk in the neck can compress nerves exiting from the spinal cord. This can cause neck pain that radiates into the shoulder and arm (cervical radiculopathy) or the lower back and leg (lumbar radiculopathy).
Regular exercises that build strength, flexibility, and proper body mechanics decrease the likelihood of muscle imbalances or nerve compression. Your doctor may recommend corticosteroid injections to ease inflammation and a surgical procedure called a discectomy or spinal fusion to remove herniated disks and stabilize the spine. Other advanced treatment options include spinal decompression therapy to release pressure on nerves.
Reduces Inflammation
Nerves emerge from the spinal cord through slender exit sites that may get compressed due to swelling or damage to the surrounding tissues, such as muscles, tendons, and cartilage. Pain, numbness, and weakness may result from this.
Pain and swelling can be reduced using over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and aspirin. Prescription medications such as narcotics and oral corticosteroids reduce severe pain and inflammation. Physical therapy helps stretch and strengthen muscles, while a splint can limit movement to allow inflamed nerves to rest.
If at-home treatment isn’t improving or symptoms worsen, a doctor can provide more advanced pinched nerve treatments. These include reducing tissue inflammation with steroid injections, which shrink swollen areas and allow inflamed nerves to recover. They may also recommend acupuncture to improve communication between muscles, spinal nerves, and the rest of the body.
Reduces Risk of Recurring Symptoms
Nerves carry messages that transfer signals from your brain to different body parts. They extend from your spinal cord through a channel shaped by the vertebrae in your spine to your limbs and trunk.
Over time, rheumatoid arthritis can cause inflammation that may press on nerves. Aging causes “wear and tear” on the spine that can result in herniated discs. Sudden injury from sports or accidents can also compress a nerve. Your healthcare professional may recommend certain over-the-counter or prescription medications to reduce pain and inflammation. They may also suggest changes to your lifestyle to prevent nerve impingement in the future. For example, a healthy diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, calcium-rich foods, and potassium can support nerve function.
