A pinched nerve implies damage or injury to a single nerve or set of nerves due to excess pressure or compression on the blood vessel. The primary reasons for such an issue are repetitive motions and staying in one position for too long. Pinched nerves often cause sharp pain and numbness in the neck, lower back, arms, and legs, among other areas, and treatments for this problem involve non-surgical and surgical options.

Non-surgical treatments

These options are the first line of treatment for pinched nerves:

Rest

Many people with a pinched nerve don’t need any treatment. If they allow themselves enough rest and sleep, their pain may go away in a few days or weeks. Quality sleep helps pinched nerves heal quickly. When awake, ensure to not overuse the area or part of the body with a pinched nerve, as it may worsen the pain. Also, avoid any movement that irritates the nerve.

Improving posture

Poor posture may be responsible for causing a pinched nerve or making it worse. Sitting, standing, lying, or twisting the limbs in certain positions for long periods can unnecessarily stress certain regions, triggering or aggravating a pinched nerve. Maintaining healthy, correct postures can help minimize the problem’s pain, discomfort, and other symptoms. Consult a doctor or physical therapist to learn the right standing, sitting, and sleeping postures.

Heat and cold therapy

These treatments work differently, but both are excellent options for addressing pinched nerves in the arm, back, neck, leg, and other areas. The best time to use cold therapy or an ice pack is when the pain is fresh, as it can help prevent excess inflammation and swelling. Heat therapy is more helpful when the initial pain starts reducing. The heat helps relax muscles, improve blood circulation, and accelerate healing.

Stretching

Gentle stretches can help relieve tension and pressure on the affected nerves. The type of stretch one should do depends on the location of the pinched nerve. If one experiences pain or discomfort during the stretch, they must stop immediately to avoid worsening the problem and consult a physical therapist for stretches that target specific areas.

Physical therapy

Such an option involves a combination of light exercises, massage, and gentle stretches to soothe pain from a pinched nerve and other discomforts. A physical therapist usually tailors a plan for an individual depending on the location of the pinched nerve, severity of symptoms, and range of mobility. Besides decreasing pain, physical therapy can improve flexibility and strength of the spine, which, in turn, helps enhance posture, balance, and coordination.

Elevating legs

This treatment is excellent for treating a pinched nerve in the back, especially the lower back. Elevating or raising the legs removes spinal pressure, reducing nerve compression. A simple way of doing this is to place a few pillows under the knees. Or, one can lay on their back with legs up so that there’s a 45-degree bend in the hips and knees.

Wearing a splint

Wearing a splint is a common treatment for pinched nerves in the hands and wrists. It helps the affected nerve rest, giving it time to heal, protecting it, and lowering the risk of further damage. One may also sleep with the splint to prevent nerve irritation at night. In most cases, splints aren’t recommended as an early treatment strategy for the problem.

Surgical treatments

Surgery is considered when the above options don’t provide relief from pain. Here are some common treatments options for a pinched nerve:

Endoscopic Discectomy

This surgery is a common treatment for pinched nerves in the lower back and can sometimes address pinched nerves in the middle back. An endoscopic discectomy is minimally invasive and allows direct spinal disc and nerve visualization. It aims to decompress the spinal discs’ compressed and damaged nerve roots. This surgery usually provides immediate relief from pain and discomfort due to a pinched nerve.

Endoscopic Foraminoplasty

This spinal surgery is the least invasive and is used for the treatment of pinched nerves in the neck or back. In this procedure, the surgeon widens the surrounding area of the spinal bone near a pinched nerve. Most patients take two to three weeks to recover from this surgery.

Laminectomy

A laminectomy is also minimally invasive. A small portion of the lamina bone is removed, which helps reduce pressure and strain on the pinched nerve. This procedure is usually recommended when a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or other spinal condition causes a pinched nerve.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion

A herniated or degenerative disc from the neck is removed to relieve spinal cord or nerve root pressure in this surgery for treating pinched nerves. Once the disc is removed, the spine is stabilized through fusion, which involves joining the vertebrae to form a single, solid bone.

Keeping the body flexible is important to avoid a pinched nerve from occurring. Daily brisk walks and light yoga exercises are quite helpful in such cases.