| If you have ever suffered from a pinched nerve you | | | | seen on regular X-rays, and may be necessary to |
| know how painful it can be. Chances are you | | | | present a clear picture of your condition. |
| experienced numbness or decreased sensation in the | | | | There are other tests that are helpful in determining |
| area supplied by the nerve or a tingling, "pins and | | | | the extent of nerve compression: a nerve conduction |
| needles" feeling. Some of my patients tell me they feel | | | | study or an electromyography (EMG). Both help to |
| a sharp or burning pain which is aggravated by | | | | identify the electrical activity and speed of the impulse |
| coughing or sneezing. Sometimes they may feel | | | | traveling in the nerve. |
| twitching in the affected area or like their foot or hand | | | | Will the Pain Ever Go Away? |
| has "fallen asleep." | | | | You are probably asking the same question most of |
| I have to tell you that I sympathize with how my | | | | my patients ask..."Will the pain ever go away?" In most |
| patients are feeling and congratulate them for seeing a | | | | cases, patients with a pinched nerve are able to |
| doctor. So often people wait too long before seeing a | | | | recover completely without any long lasting symptoms |
| specialist and suffer in silence before treatment | | | | providing they follow a treatment that includes rest, |
| relieves their symptoms. You should see your doctor if | | | | modified activity, ice, physical therapy, and medications. |
| the signs of a pinched nerve last for several days and | | | | Listed below are some of the ways in which a |
| you do not respond to self-care measures. Before I go | | | | pinched nerve can be treated depending on the |
| into detail regarding treatment and self-care remedies, | | | | location:o Support Braces |
| let me elaborate on the definition of a pinched nerve. | | | | There are times that I recommend a brace for a short |
| Simply stated a pinched nerve is caused when a | | | | period of time because it limits the amount of |
| nerve is damaged or injured resulting from | | | | movement around the nerve allowing it to rest and |
| compression, constriction, or stretching. As a result the | | | | recover. The brace also prevents my patients from |
| nerve is unable to properly conduct its signal which | | | | moving the affected nerve which could further |
| creates the symptoms described above. According to | | | | complicate the condition. For instance, a brace is used |
| the most recent statistics, at some time, up to 40% of | | | | for carpal tunnel syndrome because when the wrist |
| people experience pain, known as sciatica, which is the | | | | bends down, the median nerve in the wrist is further |
| nerve most likely to be affected in low back pain. | | | | pinched.o Medication |
| What Do Nerves Have to Do With It? | | | | Over the counter medications are often helpful in |
| Nerves are critical pathways that carry information | | | | relieving the pain of a pinched nerve such as |
| from the brain to the extremities and are distributed | | | | anti-inflammatory medications. For instance ibuprofen |
| throughout the entire body. There are two types of | | | | that can reduce swelling around the affected nerve.o |
| nerves, motor and sensory. Motor nerves carry | | | | Physical therapy |
| information from the brain to the organs, muscles, and | | | | By stretching and strengthening specific muscles in the |
| heart. Sensory nerves send information from the body | | | | body, pressure on pinched nerves is relieved.o Self |
| back to the brain for processing, including pain, touch, | | | | Care Measures |
| taste, temperature and other sensations. | | | | Alternating hot and cold packs to the affected area |
| When a nerve is pinched, the signal is somehow | | | | 2-3 times a day will help speed up the progress of |
| interrupted along the way and is therefore unable to | | | | regular massage and physical therapy. Stretching |
| transmit. There are areas of the body that are more | | | | several times a day is important so make sure you |
| susceptible to nerve compression such as in the neck | | | | follow the instructions given to you by your physical |
| or lower back caused by a herniated disc, arthritis, | | | | therapist.o Natural Remedies |
| bone spurs, or spinal stenoisis (narrowing of the spinal | | | | As mentioned earlier, anti-inflammatory medications are |
| canal). | | | | helpful in treating pinched nerves. There are herbal |
| There are many causes of nerve pressure; injury, poor | | | | anti-inflammatories like turmeric, ginger, bromelain, and |
| posture, osteoarthritis, sports activities, and obesity. | | | | rosemary that have been known to help decrease |
| These conditions may cause the tissue to compress | | | | pain. A combination of these should be taken 3-4 times |
| resulting in inflammation. There is usually no permanent | | | | a day for pain, or 1-2 for maintenance. Flax oil or fish oil |
| damage if the nerve is pinched for a short period of | | | | supplements are also a good source of |
| time but if the pressure continues there may be | | | | anti-inflammatory ingredients. Calcium and magnesium |
| chronic pain and permanent damage. | | | | are important to muscle contraction and relaxation, and |
| What Can I Expect From My Doctor? | | | | can help decrease tightness. |
| If you think you might have a pinched nerve, don't | | | | Certain foods provide anti-inflammatory benefits so if |
| hesitate to consult your doctor. He will begin by asking | | | | you are suffering from nerve pressure you might want |
| questions about your pain, numbness, tingling, | | | | to adjust your diet as well. Be sure to eat fruits, |
| weakness, or any other symptoms. Your medical | | | | vegetables, whole grains, beans, moderate in fish, dairy, |
| conditions, family medical history, and other work | | | | and good fats like olive or flax oil. Meat, sugar, white |
| related questions will be helpful in determining the best | | | | flour products, processed foods, and fried foods should |
| treatment for your specific condition. | | | | be kept to a minimum. |
| The part of your body involved will be examined, | | | | Pinched nerves are common ailments and can occur |
| including testing your strength, sensation, and muscle | | | | anywhere in your body. Living with the pain and |
| tone in certain muscles. If your doctor suspects a | | | | numbness of a pinched nerve is no fun. Fortunately |
| pinched nerve in the neck or lower back, X-rays may | | | | with proper care and conservative treatments, most |
| be needed to determine the extent of the injury. You | | | | people recover from the condition within a few days |
| may also need a CT scan or an MRI scan. These | | | | or weeks. |
| imaging studies provide information that cannot be | | | | |