Treatment For Pinched Nerve
January 27, 2010
Excess pressure exerted on a nerve by surrounding muscles, bones, cartilages and tendons causes a painful condition known as pinched nerve. Nerve in any part of the body could be affected by this condition.
Causes of pinched nerve
A pinched nerve can develop due to various reasons. Injury and stress caused by tasks involving repetitive movement of arms, wrists or shoulders to the body tissues could cause pinched nerve. Pressure on a specific nerve can arise due to increase in body weight. Herniated disc or slip disc is a painful condition that is often associated with pinched nerve.
People suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome experience debilitating nerve pain due to pinched nerve. Bone spurs that develop in joints affected by osteoarthritis, increases the risk of developing pinched nerves. Sometimes incidence of pinched nerves runs in families. Genetics might be responsible for this condition in some individuals prone to pinched nerves.
Symptoms of pinched nerve
People suffering from pinched nerve experience sharp pain, tingling and numbness in the area where the pinched nerve is present.
Pinched nerve treatment
Usually pinched nerves heal naturally after the pressure exerted on the nerve is removed. Short-term pinched nerves do not cause any permanent damage to the affected nerve. However, chronic or long-term pinched nerve can cause permanent damage. To cure pinched nerve, you should abstain from activities that compress the nerve. You should rest the area supplied by the affected nerve.
You might need a splint to keep the affected area stationary. Your doctor might recommend physical therapy to relieve the pressure exerted on the nerve. If the pain is intolerable, you might need non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for reducing the pain. Severe symptoms of pinched nerve would require corticosteroid injections. Sometimes surgery helps to cure the condition.
To reduce the pain and inflammation associated with a pinched nerve, you can apply heat compress, followed by ice pack. Foods rich in vitamins C and E, zinc, calcium and copper can help to alleviate the symptoms of pinched nerves. You can also take supplements containing these vitamins and minerals to relax the surrounding tissues. Taking adequate amounts of these nutrients regularly could even reduce the risk of developing a pinched nerve.
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