A pinched nerve can mean the difference in being able to perform simple daily tasks or not. Without the proper treatment, it can make day to day life difficult and frustrating.

Avoid stress and chaos caused by a pinched nerve by understanding how you can make a full recovery with our professional outline.

How to Know if You Have a Pinched Nerve?

A pinched nerve, otherwise known as a compressed nerve, can cause minor or severe pain depending on the damage. Nerves are connected from your brain to your spinal cord, and they send out signals throughout the rest of your body. Mostly we recognise them when we feel and react to pain. Our nerves are surrounded by tissues like muscles, tendons, bones, and more to protect them.

Damage to your nerves can occur when too much pressure is applied to the tissue surrounding your nerves, causing irritation and disrupting the nerve's ability to perform. This can result in pain and sometimes even numbness. When this injury occurs, it is known as a pinched or compressed nerve.

Common Causes that Lead to a Pinched Nerve

You can cause damage to your nerves without meaning to or even realising that you're causing harm. Simple activities like repetitive movements or lack of movements, including keeping your body in one position for long periods of time, can put pressure on your nerves and cause fatigue and inflammation.

You can also cause the tissue surrounding your nerves to compress during sports activities and more. There's no limit to the ways you can get hurt and wind up with a pinched nerve. 

While you may damage a nerve in your arm or neck, the pain can radiate throughout your body. The compression on a nerve in your neck or arm can create symptoms in your hands, fingers, wrists, and more.

When this happens, it's best to get plenty of rest and seek out treatments specific to your injury. 

Treating and Nurturing a Pinched Nerve

If you believe you're in danger of a potential pinched nerve or you're simply feeling sore from the overuse of your muscles, there are several remedies you can try at home to ensure a steady recovery.

Should you be in severe pain, please consult a doctor and set up a plan with a physiotherapist to give you the best chance of recovering.

Have a complete rest.

Easy practices like making sure you're getting plenty of rest and changing posture can help your nerves relax and give them time to start the healing process during the early stages of damage. You may even find comfort in wearing a splint for a short period of time, though you'll want to make sure you don't wear it for too long or your muscles that aren't being used will experience atrophy.

Install standing workstation.

For back, neck, hands, and wrists a standing workstation can assist in reducing pain while giving your nerves the structure they need to reduce pressure. Many standing desk stations like this are adjustable and allow you to find the most comfortable position for yourself.

Do stretching exercises.

One treatment you can try that is also a good daily habit is gentle stretching exercises. The practice of stretching extends flexibility in your muscles and helps relieve pressure when they've become stiff from lack of use or from being in a splint. However, it's important to stop stretching if you're feeling discomfort or pain throughout the exercise.

Other treatments

Other common treatments include elevation and ice packs to reduce swelling and inflammation. If your pain is high enough, see a doctor for recommendations on over the counter pain medicine that could also assist in reducing swelling. Once the inflammation goes down you'll find it much easier to regain proper mobility and strengthen those ligaments and tendons surrounding the nerves.

If at any time you're uncomfortable with at-home treatments, seek out help from a professional and schedule an appointment with your local physiotherapist.

Benefits of Seeking Advice from a Physiotherapist

When getting treatment from a professional, there are always many benefits. Not only are you receiving great medical care from somebody highly trained, but you're also going through the steps with somebody that deals with pinched nerves each and every day.

They'll have access to the most up to date information on how you can make strides in recovery, as well as be able to walk you through the process.

Physical exam

Through a physical exam, a physiotherapist can help determine how severe your injury is. They'll have you perform tests like lifting your leg while holding it straight to determine and diagnose your condition.

Some exams may require imaging tests to provide extra assistance in deciding the best way to treat your symptoms, but once the results are reviewed you'll receive a step-by-step plan on how to begin your recovery.

Diet recommendations

Through the process, it may be recommended that you make changes in your diet and create a routine that pushes for a healthier lifestyle. This will help in healing but will also reduce the likelihood of another pinched nerve in the future. Plus, you'll feel great making little changes you personally benefit from.

Advanced treatments

If you require advanced treatment, you'll receive the best care and fully understand the process going into each session. This could include but doesn't necessarily mean having surgery.

No matter the injury level of your pinched nerve, you'll be going through each step with somebody you trust. A physiotherapist can provide you with answers and advice on how to heal as well as put you on the road to recovery.

Book an Appointment at CK Physiotherapy Clinic 

At CK Physiotherapy, our goal is to create a plan that enables you to make the recovery you deserve. Get back to the lifestyle you love and regain comfort and mobility with our professional help.

Contact us today if you're looking for a physiotherapist in Ealing or London. We'll schedule an appointment and get you in one of our offices to provide you with the care that you need. Upon your visit, we'll discuss the proper plans that can help you during the healing process, and make sure to ease any concerns you have about a pinched nerve.

References:

How to treat a pinched nerve, MedicalNewsToday.com

Pinched (Compressed) Nerve, WebMD.com

Pinched Nerve, Cedars-Sinai.org

Pinched nerve, MayoClinic.org