How To Relieve Pinched Nerve Pain

As we age, engage in strenuous activity, or develop poor posture, we often mistake pinched nerves for soreness of muscles. The compression of muscles, tendons, bones, or cartilage can cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakening when nearby tissues push against one or more nerves.

A pinched nerve may occasionally indicate another problem within the body. Whether it’s a herniated disc or carpal tunnel syndrome, the condition depends on where the pain and numbness are.

Usually, you can treat a pinched nerve, and its side effects reduced in weeks or months with a combination of rest and physical therapy. A pinched nerve can cause more significant damage if left unattended, leading to chronic pain, or even requiring surgery for pain relief.

Here are a few treatments to lessen pinched nerve symptoms and perhaps prevent them in the future:

Rest it out

A nerve’s ability to repair depends on sleep. Giving the body extra time to mend itself as it sleeps could aid symptom relief. Resting the injured location and getting more sleep is sufficient to allow the pinched nerve to heal independently.

It’s crucial to avoid overusing the nerve while treating a pinched nerve. Any motions that aggravate the pain should be avoided. Additionally, you ought to make an effort to sleep in a position that releases pressure from the nerve.

Work on your posture

Poor posture may contribute to or exacerbate a pinched nerve. Long periods of sitting or standing in the wrong position put undue strain on the body, harming the muscles and spine and resulting in a pinched nerve. When sitting, cushions, adjustable chairs, and neck supports can assist in easing the pressure and promote nerve healing.

Ergonomic workspace

Those who get pinched nerves may consider changing their workspace into an ergonomic workstation. You should set up your desk so you can easily reach everything on it without risk of injury.

You may lessen the pressure on your hands using an ergonomic keyboard and mouse or alleviate neck pain by bringing the screen to eye level to avoid hunchback. It would help if you played with the settings to find an ideal position that releases pressure.

Yoga and stretches

Yoga and gentle stretching ease the tightness and tension in the affected region. Avoid stretching too far because doing so could worsen the discomfort. Exercise should be stopped immediately if you feel any pain or soreness to prevent further nerve damage.

Applying heat or ice

Switching between ice and heat packs can help reduce swelling and inflammation in many situations. Using both hot and cold stimulates the flow of new blood to the area, which could reduce discomfort.

Lifestyle change

Including a low-impact activity like walking, swimming, or biking in a routine may help minimize symptoms and maintain physical fitness. Regular exercise and weight loss may decrease inflammation, which relieves strain on the nerves.

Massage and therapy

Receiving a massage might lessen stress and discomfort in the body. A full-body massage can relax the muscles and ease the tension by gently applying pressure to the affected area. Because the added pressure could exacerbate the symptoms, deep-tissue massages might not be an ideal option.

Physical therapy, stretching, massage, and exercise can help with symptoms. Approaching an experienced chiropractor service like Therapeutic Solutions will offer the best treatment for a pinched nerve in the neck and lower back in Newport News, Virginia.