Feeling a sharp pain down your spine? It may just be muscle fatigue, but it could also be a pinched nerve.
Most often occurring at one of three main sections throughout the spine (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine), a pinched nerve—although typically non-life-threatening—can cause pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling that make it difficult to go about our daily activities. Learning how to relieve pinched nerves can offer you relief.
There are several ways on how to treat a pinched nerve (most of them nonsurgical!) for you to try.
To learn ways that relieve pinched nerve pain, you can consult with the Back, Neck, and Spine Team at EmergeOrtho-Triangle Region. Our board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic specialists have gained an expert-level understanding of spinal conditions and how to heal pinched nerve pain.
What Is a Pinched Nerve?
A pinched nerve is when compression or irritation occurs at the point where the nerve branches off from the spinal cord.
In younger patients, a pinched nerve is more commonly caused by a herniated disc, which can occur spontaneously or after a specific injury.
In older patients, a pinched nerve is more commonly caused by wear and tear, typically in the form of arthritis, bone spurs, calcium deposits, thickened ligaments, and collapsed/degenerated discs.
Symptoms may include:
- Sharp pain that radiates from the location of the nerve into the arm or leg
- Numbness, tingling, and/or a burning sensation
- Weakness in the surrounding muscles
- Pain with subtle neck or back movement
How To Treat a Pinched Nerve
Most patients can relieve pain with nonsurgical pinched nerve treatment options. Common ways how to relieve pinched nerves include:
- Physical Therapy: Specific exercises (coupled with spinal traction in some cases) done over an appropriate period of time can relieve pain, strengthen the surrounding muscles, and improve pain in the affected area.
- Bracing: Depending on the area of your spine that is affected, a soft cervical collar or a back brace can prevent further pinching by limiting movement and allowing the surrounding muscles to rest.Note that most braces will need to be worn for short spurts of time to prevent permanent muscle weakness. You should follow the specific instructions of your orthopedic specialist for the best results.
- Oral Medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acetaminophen or oral corticosteroids, can relieve pain by reducing inflammation, swelling, and irritation.
- Steroid Injections: Steroids are injected by pain management specialists under x-ray guidance near the affected nerve to reduce inflammation.If the pinched nerve is still not healed from nonsurgical treatments or symptoms of weakness and numbness progress, surgery may be recommended by an Orthopedic spine surgical specialist. Surgery can include:
- Lumbar microdiscectomy: The herniated disc is removed from the spine helping to relieve any pressure placed on the affected nerve.
- Lumbar laminectomy/hemilaminectomy and/or Fusion: Bone spurs and thickened ligaments pressing on nerves are removed to relieve the symptoms of a pinched nerve.
- Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: This is the most common procedure to heal pinched nerves in the cervical spine (neck).The problematic disc and/or bone spurs are removed, then the spine is stabilizedthrough spinal fusion. This procedure is performed via an incision in the front side (anterior) of the body.
- Cervical disc replacement: An alternative to cervical fusion, the disc herniation and bone spurs are removed, and an artificial disc is inserted.
- Posterior Cervical Laminoforaminotomy: This procedure is generally geared toward pinched nerves in the cervical spine (neck). The surgeon will first use special tools to shave down the lamina (the arched bone that forms the backside of the spinal canal) to better access the affected nerve. The doctor will then remove any bone, bone spurs, tissue, or portions of the herniated disc that are causing the pinched nerve.It is performed via an incision in the backside (posterior) of the body.
Home Treatment for Pinched Nerve in Neck
Various treatment options can provide relief without necessarily visiting a doctor. Here are some home treatments that you can try.
- The first step is to rest the affected area. Avoid engaging in any activity that may worsen or irritate the nerve.
- Apply cold or heat therapy to the affected area. Depending on what feels soothing, you can place an ice pack or heat pad.
- Over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can provide temporary relief.
- Gently stretching or massaging the area of the pinched nerve could help alleviate symptoms. Be careful not to overstretch or massage too aggressively.
- Try changing your posture or sleeping position as this could reduce pressure on the affected nerve.
- Consider trying natural pain relievers, such as turmeric or ginger, which have anti-inflammatory properties and might provide some relief.
You must seek medical attention if the pinched nerve persists, worsens, or you start experiencing severe pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the affected area.
Experience Exceptional Pinched Nerve Treatment With EmergeOrtho-Triangle Region
A pinched nerve may go away independently, but it may also get worse with time. Take the safe route and consult with EmergeOrtho-Triangle Region’s Back, Neck, and Spine Specialists to access a wealth of knowledge and medical innovations on how to relieve pinched nerves.
To learn more, schedule an appointment now. Or, call us anytime at (919) 220-5255.
