Home Remedies for Pinched Nerve Pain And How to Get Rid Of It

When you suddenly wake up in the morning or lift a heavy object, have you felt a sharp and tingling sensation in your arm or shoulder? The cause for this condition can be a pinched or compressed nerve. A compressed nerve is a very common issue and can happen to anyone. 

Sport injuries or lifting something heavy at home can cause such problems that result in a compressed nerve. The pain from a pinched nerve is not to be taken lightly since it can further result in more severe damages. 

Now, are you wondering how to cure a pinched nerve at home? Well, we have a few home treatments for pinched nerve, noted down for your convenience. But, beware if the pain does not lessen within a time period or even after using all the home remedies, it is a signal to visit a doctor.

All About Pinched Nerves

A pinched nerve often occurs due to a compressed nerve or too much pressure is applied on a nerve by the surrounding tissue such as tendons, ligaments, cartilage or bones. In most cases, the cause turns out to be the herniated disk slipping from the vertebrae in the spinal cord and pressing the spinal nerve beneath.

Pinched nerves can be caused due to a variety of factors like an injury, Rheumatoid or wrist arthritis, stress from constant work, sports activities or even obesity. There are certain body conditions that can increase the chances of experiencing a pinched nerve like pregnancy, thyroid, diabetes and prolonged bed rest.

This pressure can cause various symptoms such as pain, numbness or weakness of the body part where the nerve was pressurized. Usually, the best home remedy for a pinched nerve is time and lots of rest. You can also take over-the-counter pain relievers to alleviate the pain. 

If the pain does not end within four to six weeks, it is advisable to visit a doctor. A surgery is needed for pinched nerves in the most extreme cases when home treatments for pinched nerves do not work.

Where Do Pinched Nerves Occur In The Body?

There are no specific body parts where pinched nerves occur. They can occur in many areas throughout the body. But the most common pinched nerve is in the neck and shoulder (cervical nerves), upper middle back, lower back or upper chest (thoracic and lumbar nerves). The neck pain is more often due to a sudden twist, lift or bend. They can also occur in your wrists or hand (carpal tunnel syndrome), elbow or arm(ulnar nerve). 

Compressed nerves can impact several other areas of the body. A pinched nerve in the cervical spine can result in a stiff neck or severe pain and numbness in shoulder and arms. Pinched nerves in the lower back can lead to pain in buttocks, hips and legs. Meanwhile, the pinched nerves due to thoracic radiculopathy causes chest pain.

Home Remedies For Pinched Nerves

Are you looking for remedies on how to treat pinched nerves naturally? We have you covered here. There are many home treatments for pinched nerves that you can try at home and ease the pain. You can choose the best remedy for your condition and use it.

Rest and Sleep

Most of the time, it only requires a good amount of rest and sleep to cure a pinched nerve. Sleep is most efficient to heal nerves since the body repairs itself when we sleep. This allows more time for the body to reduce the symptoms.

Also, it would be wise to avoid certain physical activities such as sports, lifting heavy objects, high-speed exercises, etc. to prevent the overuse of the affected area and nerve. Movements that might irritate the nerve or impact it by any sort should also be avoided to prevent the condition from worsening. Hence proper rest and sleep are ideal home remedies for pinched nerve in lower back.

Ice and Heat Compress

The combination of hot and ice compress can be safe home remedies for pinched nerve in neck since there are no side effects. This method can be used for any type of ache and is very effective. The alteration of hot and ice compress promotes fresh blood flow for the healing process.

Firstly, you can apply a hot pack or heating pads to the affected area for 20-30 minutes. This helps the tightened muscles around the pinched nerves to relax which increases the blood flow. You can later switch to a cold compress for 10-15 minutes which eases inflammation and pain. Cold compress can be applied twice or thrice a day while hot compress can be used for longer durations.

OTC Pain Relievers

Over-the-counter pain relievers can also be used as one of the home remedies for pinched nerves. Acetaminophen and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin can be taken orally after consulting.

These drugs can help reduce the swelling and ease the pain for the time being. But, it would be a much better option to seek the advice of a doctor for prescriptions or dosages if you take any other medications or are allergic to any other substances.

Standing Workstation

An ergonomic or standing workstation is the latest and one of the usable home treatments for pinched nerve for several body parts.. 

This requires you to make changes to your workspace and use an ergonomic keyboard and mouse to avoid pressure on wrists and hands. Similarly, raising the computer monitor to the eye level can be a home remedy for pinched nerve in neck. A standing workstation can keep your spine more flexible and moving. It poses as a home remedy for pinched nerve in back.

Otherwise, you can set up a comfortable workstation for yourself and keep moving for various reasons such as coffee or other work every one hour. This can also mobilize your spine other than the standing workstation.

Change of Posture

It is common to have or worsen a pinched nerve because of a poor posture. Making a habit of changing your position at intervals or sitting in a correct posture can be the simplest home remedies for pinched nerve in lower back.

Standing or sitting in an incorrect posture for a prolonged period of time can put unnecessary strain on your body parts and damage your spine or muscles. You can use cushions, adjustable chairs or neck rests to avoid pinched nerves or  allow the nerves to heal themselves in case of a compressed nerve.

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Stretching or Yoga

Yoga has been a remedy for various illnesses and conditions. Proper stretching or correct yoga positions can be a very suitable home remedy for pinched nerve in back. However, there is no need to do severe stretching or yoga positions for better healing.

Yoga and stretching may help you release the tension and stress around the affected area and, in a way, improve your condition. But, if you feel discomfort or pain, it is better to avoid stretching or yoga as it may worsen the symptoms. 

Elevate the legs

Other home remedies for pinched nerve in back can be elevating your legs at an angle. This not only helps to keep the affected area at rest but also allows proper blood flow and circulation around the body.

You can stretch your legs out and put a few pillows under the knees at an angle of 45°. This will give your back a good resting position and direct the blood flow towards the nerves. The nerves can heal themselves more efficiently in this resting position while easing your pain.

Splints or Cervical Collars

If you want a more standard pinched nerve in neck treatment at home, this is the one. Wearing a splint around the affected area, if possible, would help you much trouble with your movements.

It not only prevents any further damage but also helps the nerves to heal faster by restricting the movement of the body part. This can also be a treatment for pinched nerve in wrists or arms. Other than this, it also helps to avoid discomfort or irritation while sleeping by taking the pressure off from the nerve.

Physical Therapy

A gentle massage around the affected area can work magic. Light exercises and massages are one of the best natural remedies for pinched nerves. It can help you release the stress and pressure around the pinched nerve and relieve some of the pain.

Full body massages can help relax the muscles and the strain but deep tissue massage may not be a good idea as the extra pressure may worsen the symptoms. A perfect physical therapy for a pinched nerve would be the combination of light exercises, body massages and stretches.

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Final Words

These remedies can help you subside the pain, but it is best to prevent such conditions from arising. Pinched nerves can sometimes lead to more serious problems such as chronic pain or permanent nerve damage.

Next you are suffering from the excruciating pain due to a compressed nerve, you can use these home remedies for pinched nerve to ease the pain. However, if the pain continues even after the treatments, be sure to contact your provider or visit a hospital.

Frequently Asked Questions