Pinched Nerves: What To Do

You have ventured out of your comfort zone, in hope of acquiring more information that will provide you with knowledge on causes and solutions to a very agonizing pain that has been battering you for some time now. If you are currently the victim of a burning sensation, weakness, or numbness of an extremity accompanied by a tingling sensation, we must notify you that these are signs of a pinched nerve. Stay tuned for a detailed account of its origin, and on what you can do to feel better.

Symptoms: As mentioned above, the main issue with a pinched nerve is the level of pain that can abruptly ruin your day. The symptoms are caused by a consistent set of compression over the root of the nerve, causing inflammation and burning pain. Most people also become vastly alarmed, by the numbing sensation that a pinched nerve may inflict on the individual. When this occurs, one may feel that their arm or leg is falling asleep. The difference with this, however, is the consistency in which the feeling occurs becoming extremely bothersome. As time goes on, the pain and numbness may interrupt the individual’s sleeping cycle.

Causes: Pinched nerves are caused by a consistent set of compression over the root of the nerve, causing inflammation and burning pain. The pressure may derive from incidents such as herniated disks that inflict pressure on the nerve, or inflamed tendons and muscles. Just like other nerve ailments, other underlying conditions are the ones that lead to pinched nerves. These can be:

• Wrist arthritis
• Stress from physical strain
• Obesity

The time frame with pinched nerves can vary, meaning that if it’s accurately assessed or treated there will not be any prolonged damage. However, if left alone, the pain can become chronic and severe.

Who is most at risk:

• Several factors may increase the propensity of suffering from a pinched nerve. For example, the sex of an individual plays an important role in this. Anatomically, women have smaller carpal tunnels, leading to carpal tunnel syndrome, which in turn is likely to cause a pinched nerve. Illnesses like thyroid diseases can also lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, wreaking havoc on the individual’s quality of life.
• Women who become pregnant, are also at risk for nerve damage as their pregnancy can expand nerve pathways, resulting in nerve compression.
• Obesity, as previously mentioned, can be very dangerous as the heavy extra weight places pressure on the nerves.
• Lastly, exaggerated bed rest can also increase the risk of nerve compression, as lying down creates pressure on your joints and extremities.

How to prevent: The most effective ways to prevent a pinched nerve are the following –

1. Maintaining a good posture and avoiding crossing your legs repeatedly, which can trigger inflammation in the long run.
2. Maintaining a healthy weight, considering your age, height, and other conditions, is crucial.
3. When performing exercise, it is equally important to stretch before and after to avoid strains in muscle tendons.

Treatment: The solutions for your aggravation start with a simple visit to your local chiropractor. From that point forward, your doctor will advise you to limit your activity to reduce the chances of aggravating the area. In the worst case, he may immobilize the area, to lessen recovery time.

Now that you’ve read up more about what is affecting you, we hope that you feel more confident in taking the necessary steps for recovery. Getting medical help is nothing to be ashamed of, especially when your quality of life is on the line. If you are noticing the first signs of a pinched nerve, act as soon as you can.