At-Home Pinched Nerve Treatment To Help Relieve Pain
Pinched nerves are a common experience that often results in a tingly feeling in the affected area. If you’ve ever had your hand or foot “fall asleep” and experienced the “pins and needles” sensation, that was most likely the result of a mildly pinched nerve due to excess pressure being placed on it. Whether it’s an acute issue or chronic, this condition can be irritating and inhibit your daily activities. Learning how to heal a pinched nerve or find pain relief can be as simple as making a few concentrated adjustments to your lifestyle.
Today, we’re discussing the most common sensations associated with this condition, what causes it, and an array of pinched nerve treatment options you can try at home to find relief. Don’t accept having to deal with pinched nerve sensations. Instead, learn how to relieve a pinched nerve to regain control over your daily life and be pain-free.
What Is a Pinched Nerve?
Before we can dive into pinched nerve treatment options, it’s important to know what this condition actually is. A pinched nerve is caused by excess pressure being placed on the nerve by the surrounding tissue (this could be bones, cartilage, muscles, or tendons) and most commonly occurs in areas like your neck, shoulders, wrists, elbows, and lower back.
Unlike delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), which you might experience after an intense physical activity or workout, pinched nerves result from nerve compression. DOMS is a direct result of muscle fatigue and often leads to feelings of weakness, soreness, or muscle tension. Pinched nerves, on the other hand, are frequently associated with the feeling of pins and needles or even stabbing pain.
Learning how to heal a pinched nerve is best served by doing a targeted treatment. Different recovery methods will yield different results based on how your body responds, so don’t be discouraged, and be sure to give different pinched nerve treatment options a try until you find what works best for you.
What Causes Pinched Nerves?
Understanding what the condition is only covers half the preparedness for finding effective pinched nerve treatment. Knowing what causes it is another important component of how to heal a pinched nerve and find relief as quickly as possible.
Pinched nerves happen when excessive pressure is applied to a nerve by the surrounding tissue. It interferes with nerve function and can lead to tingling, pain, numbness, or other symptoms.
Some of the most common causes of pinched nerve pain are:
- Herniated discs
- Arthritis
- Bone spurs
- Poor posture
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Obesity
How to Heal a Pinched Nerve at Home
Finding methods for how to relieve a pinched nerve at home is easier than you think. While it’s important to consult your doctor before beginning any new pinched nerve treatment routine, many people are able to find relief without the need for invasive measures or prescription medications. Learning how to relieve a pinched nerve involves getting enough rest, letting your body heal, and benefits from using tools like zero gravity chairs to support this recovery.
Some of the most effective methods for how to heal a pinched nerve you can try are:
- Resting for pinched nerve treatment
- Applying ice therapy for a pinched nerve
- Doing physical therapy for pinched nerve treatment
- Using a standing desk to treat a pinched nerve
- Stretching exercises for how to relieve a pinched nerve
- Elevating your legs for pinched nerve pain relief
- Sleeping to help with how to heal a pinched nerve
1. Resting for Pinched Nerve Treatment
One of the most common pinched nerve treatment options recommended for people experiencing symptoms is to rest and relax. This lets your body catch a break from excess physical exertion like heavy lifting or repetitive motions that could make a pinched nerve worse and help with how the body heals itself. You’ll be supporting how to relieve a pinched nerve and get back to being pain-free as quickly as possible. Making time to rest and relax also helps reduce inflammation to help you heal.
One of the most effective tools you can use for pinched nerve treatment is a zero gravity chair. These recliners are designed to support physical and mental wellness via the zero gravity position. In the zero gravity position, your legs are elevated above the heart level, evenly distributing weight along your body. It serves as the catalyst for removing excess pressure on pinched nerves, increasing blood flow throughout your body, and helping you recover faster.
2. Applying Ice Therapy for a Pinched Nerve
Ice therapy is another pinched nerve treatment that’s easy to apply for relief at home. It effectively reduces inflammation and numbing pain associated with your pinched nerve area. Apply an ice pack to help with how to relieve a pinched nerve for 15 to 20 minutes several times a day to decrease swelling and pain.
When applying an ice pack to your body, be sure to wrap it in a thin towel or cloth to avoid direct contact with your skin. Direct contact can damage the surface tissue, which is counterproductive to helping your body heal.
3. Doing Physical Therapy for Pinched Nerve Treatment
You might also consider doing physical therapy for how to heal a pinched nerve efficiently. Whether you’re working with a professional physical therapist or doing a small regimen of physical therapy exercises at home as directed by your primary care physician, there are plenty of exercises and stretches that may help you along the way. These exercises should be aimed at relieving pressure on the affected nerve and strengthening the surrounding muscles.
Doing physical therapy exercises as part of your pinched nerve treatment routine can increase mobility and flexibility, help with better posture, and potentially prevent future occurrences from happening.
4. Using a Standing Desk to Treat a Pinched Nerve
A pinched nerve may also be part of pain from sitting too long. Sitting down for prolonged periods can make symptoms worse, especially if you’re not practicing good posture. To keep yourself from sitting too long, especially at work, consider getting a standing desk. Adjustable standing desks allow you to alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day, so you’re promoting better health and work safety.
Standing desks are a popular part of an ergonomic workspace setup. These desks support better posture and reduce the strain on your neck and back, two common sources of pinched nerve pain. Ensure your computer screen is at eye level, and your wrists are positioned comfortably for optimal support.
5. Stretching Exercises to Relieve Pinched Nerve Pain
In tandem with other physical therapy routines, stretching exercises may also help with pinched nerve treatment at home. Adding in gentle stretches to elongate your muscles and relax them helps the affected area by reducing muscle tension and lessening pressure on the nerve.
Some of the best stretches for how to heal a pinched nerve are:
- Neck stretches
- Shoulder rolls
- Cat-cow stretches
Each of these should be done slowly to make sure you’re not accidentally making any injuries worse. These exercises can be done in just a few minutes as often as you need to assist in your pinched nerve treatment each day.
6. Elevating Your Legs for Pinched Nerve Pain Relief
Like with many kinds of injuries, elevating your legs is effective for pinched nerve treatment. When you elevate your legs using a zero gravity recliner, you're getting the best of each zero gravity spinal decompression benefit for your body, which removes excess pressure on commonly affected nerves in your upper and lower back. It also helps improve blood flow throughout the body so you can heal more quickly.
Zero gravity chairs are perfect for elevating your legs as part of pinched nerve treatment at home to combine this method alongside helping you relax more fully. These tools elevate your legs to the perfect level while properly supporting the rest of your body. Heated zero gravity chairs, as well as zero gravity chairs with air pressure massage or vibration massage features, make your experience even better.
7. Healing a Pinched Nerve With Quality Sleep
Last, but certainly not least, on our list of how to heal a pinched nerve at home is getting more restful sleep. When it comes to sleep and how to heal a pinched nerve, quality is more important than quantity. You should aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night for optimal health, but getting more restorative sleep helps your body heal faster.
In addition to making sure you have a supportive mattress and conducive sleep environment in your bedroom, you might supplement sleep with healthy nap opportunities using a zero gravity chair. This versatile tool for pinched nerve treatment provides a safe, supportive spot for getting better quality sleep and helping your body heal. The benefits of the zero gravity sleep position will have you back to feeling your best in no time.
Starting Pinched Nerve Home Treatment
Dealing with pinched nerve pain is challenging and can interrupt your daily routine. Fortunately, there are numerous pinched nerve treatment options to try at home to alleviate the pain and discomfort you may experience. Managing these symptoms effectively will vary from person to person, so consult your doctor about how to relieve a pinched nerve and prevent future occurrences.
From choosing a zero gravity chair for optimal rest, to applying ice therapy and implementing other lifestyle changes, explore all your options to see what works best for you.
Disclaimer: This content is not medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare professional when considering implementing changes to your health or workout routines to ensure it’s compatible with your needs.
