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Pinched nerves pain can be excruciating which means you will end up seeing a doctor. Stiff neck, arching back, and tingling pain in the back and limbs, are some symptoms of a pinched nerve. Are you battling the same?
In some cases, doctors will prescribe a surgery to treat pinched nerves although you don’t always need to undergo one. There are some non-invasive methods that we will be exploring here so that you have the right information at your disposal. .
Your spine is made up of 33 interlocking vertebrae with a cushion-like disc slotted in-between. The spine allows motions like standing, sitting, resting, walking, bending, and everything you can comprehend. Spinal canal passes through these vertebrae housing the spinal cord which is one of the longest band-like nerve tissues that assists sensory information to and from the brain to the rest of the body.
The canal is 12 to 14mm in diameter. Housing the spinal cord, it’s nerve endings leave the spine between two vertebrae. In events of a pinched nerve, a nerve or nerves gets compressed due to surrounding tissues which include cartilage, bone, tendon, disc, or muscles. For instance, a herniated disk happens when the cushion-like disc between vertebrae ruptures allowing the liquid to ooze thereby compressing the nerves.
There are other conditions that lead to pinched nerves as well such as disc protrusion, spinal stenosis, rheumatoid arthritis, bulging disc, etc. All in all, pinched nerves occur when the nerves are compressed and it can be extremely painful. The severity depends upon the underlying condition, and the patient’s health history among other factors.
Pinched nerves can occur throughout the body. Common locations include neck & shoulder, back & upper chest, wrist & hand; and arm & elbow. If you are experiencing a similar condition, trust us, you aren’t alone. Pinched nerves are a common type of back pain affecting 85 out of every 100K adults and the numbers are growing gradually.
When it comes to what causes a pinched nerve, you might be witnessing the condition due to obesity, sports, or other injuries such as accident compressing the nerve, repetitive motion leading to carpal tunnel syndrome, etc. Pinched nerves might occur due to ageing as the constant wear and tear could flare it.
If someone undergoes rheumatoid arthritis, they are more susceptible to a pinched nerve. Similarly, pregnancy could put excess pressure on the nerve thereby compressing it. If you are a diabetic patient, consistently high blood sugar levels can damage the nerves too.
On account of symptoms, you will feel numbness, dull or sharp pain, muscle weakness, tingling sensation, and tired hand or foot to name a few. Based on the symptoms and patient history, doctors usually recommend imaging tests such as X-rays, CT, MRI, and EMG to find the root cause.
We understand that pinched nerves can cause a lot of pain. It is where you might even search the internet to find a back treatment. But rest assured, there are certain non-invasive treatments available for a pinched nerve that relieves you from the hassles of undergoing surgery. Let’s explore!
There’s no denying that your body is designed to function like a well-oiled machine. Sleep is essential as it is when your body carries out crucial healing and repair work. It is how the body takes care of any wounds, aches, damages to the cells, etc.
When it comes to a pinched nerve, experts recommend plenty of resting as one could. It is advisable to avoid movements that trigger irritation; that’s where sleeping becomes a key factor in allowing the body to reduce symptoms quicker. In fact, you might not even have to take any other treatment as resting will take care of the nerve damage.
If you ask about how long a pinched nerve could take to treat, the answer is between four to six weeks. Generally, medications including acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen belong to a group of medicines called NSAIDs that help with pain and inflammation. Similarly, taking epidural injections, and muscle relaxants among others can help subside the pain by a lot. Of course, we would still recommend you to take a professional’s help before going for any medicines.
Experts recommended stuffing a pillow beneath the knees to level the natural lower back spinal curve to relieve lower back pain and it is true for pinched nerves as well since it puts the back pain at ease and steers away from discomfort that the condition can cause.
When it comes to treating pinched nerves non-surgically, home remedies can go a long way. For instance, changing sitting and sleeping posture can help reduce the symptoms of nerve pain. As you might be already aware, your spine has natural curves, and maintaining it keeps the spine healthy. However, when you bend too much or have a bad posture, it can contribute to chronic back pain leading to conditions like herniated discs, pinched nerves, etc.
According to the experts, moving or strolling every hour or so helps the spine to release the pressure it is undergoing when you are working. In any case, walking is always beneficial. You can combine it with yoga, medical movements such as back pain relieving activities that can help strengthen the spine and enhance flexibility. Using ice and heat treatment can help with muscle spasms that usually increase the pain intensity.
Just as you would perform any home remedy, changing lifestyle is a way to steer away from all sorts of back pain. For instance, experts recommend eating a balanced diet, swimming, bicycling, and walking among other light and low-impact activities that don’t just keep you in shape but help you physically and psychologically. The idea behind lifestyle changes is to treat our bodies better than before.
It’s only natural that someone will end up with illness, obesity and diseases if they are eating a lot of junk food. Thus, making all sorts of lifestyle changes goes a long way with a multitude of health benefits.
What comes to your mind when I say ‘massage’? I would guess you’ll think about ‘a relaxed feeling’ when you go for a massage and it won’t be wrong. Light to moderate massage can help reduce back pain by a lot although avoid deep tissue massage that can aggravate the condition.
Pinched nerves are disturbing and painful. Surgery can be an option although it mustn’t be the first and last option you try. We at QI Spine Clinic have been treating patients with pinched nerves and other types of back problems using the latest technologies such as Digital Spine Analysis (DSA), Cell Repair Treatment, among others. Book an appointment at 086558 85566 for a pain-free life ahead.
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