6 Non-Invasive Treatment Options for Pinched NervesYou might suspect you have a pinched nerve if you experience tingling or numbness in an extremity. A sharp, burning, or “electrical” pain may strike suddenly. At first, these sensations may come and go, but eventually, they become more consistent. Common places to experience pinched nerves include:

  • The wrist (median nerve within the carpal tunnel)
  • The elbow (ulnar nerve)
  • The neck (nerve in the cervical spine)
  • The lower back (sciatic nerve)
  • The knee (peroneal nerve)

If you have a pinched nerve, you should only consider surgery as your first option if your nervous system is in imminent danger of permanent damage. Otherwise, we recommend trying these non-invasive treatments first.

At-Home Treatments for Pinched Nerves

Start by treating your pinched nerves at home. In minor cases, this may be enough to eliminate the unpleasant numbness and tingling you’re experiencing.

Rest

If your pinched nerve was caused by a repetitive activity, simply resting could be the best treatment. Let your injury heal by keeping off the affected area for a few days.

Over-the-Counter Medication

Many times, pinched nerves occur when inflammation compresses a nearby nerve. One way to fight inflammation is to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). If you can curb the swelling, you may be able to free the compressed nerve and feel healthy again.

Ice & Heat Therapy

When inflammation, redness, warmth, and tenderness accompany your pinched nerve, try icing it to decrease these symptoms. Wrap an ice pack or bag of frozen peas in a towel and hold it against the injured area for 10 or 15 minutes two to three times per day.

After at least two to three days have passed since the injury occurred, you can begin applying heat to stimulate blood flow, loosen up your muscles, and encourage healing. Use a heating pad, hot water bottle, or soak in a warm bath for 10 or 15 minutes two to three times per day.

Professional Treatments for Pinched Nerves

At-home treatments can only get you so far. If rest, medicine, ice, and heat aren’t enough to eliminate your symptoms, come to Spine Correction Center to begin professional, non-invasive treatment for pinched nerves. Here’s a look at what we offer.

Physical Therapy

When the pinched nerve originates in your neck or back, physical therapy is often beneficial for treating your symptoms. Specialized exercises and stretches strengthen your back and core muscles to decrease or even eliminate pressure on the affected nerve. Our physical therapist may recommend modifying certain daily activities as part of your pinched nerve treatment.

Spinal Decompression

Particularly useful for treating a pinched sciatic nerve, spinal decompression slowly stretches and realigns the spine for long-term pain relief. When everything aligns correctly, the pinched nerve is released, and you return to full health.

Trigger Point Injections

Pinched or irritated nerves often originate somewhere other than where you feel numbness and tingling. For example, a bulging or herniated spinal disc could cause irritation in the nerves leading down your arm, resulting causing symptoms in your hands. Trigger point injections performed under ultrasound guidance are a safe and effective way to promote healing in a dysfunctional muscle or joint that has caused a pinched nerve.

When to Consider Surgery

If you receive professional treatment for six to eight weeks without satisfactory results, it’s time to consider surgery to correct the underlying problem. For pinched nerves located in the spine, surgery is typically reserved for patients whose quality of life has been greatly affected.

Receive Treatment for Pinched Nerves at Spine Correction Center

Our experts help patients pursue the very best treatment possible to avoid surgery. Whether you have carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, or another type of pinched nerve, our non-invasive treatments are reliable and effective. We look at your whole body, not just the trouble area, to pinpoint the true cause of your discomfort.

For advice about treating pinched nerves at home, or to schedule a free consultation with one of our physicians, please contact Spine Correction Center today at (970) 658-5115.