Have you ever been having a conversation with a friend or family member and mentioned a bout of intense, shooting pain you had that was concentrated in one specific area, and their response was simply, "Oh, you probably had a pinched nerve"? Did you stop to wonder what that meant? Did you wonder how you might fix the problem in the future?
You're not alone if you did. Just a few months ago, I apparently pinched a nerve in my upper back while I was sleeping which left me miserable for days afterward, and I started having the same questions. I also became desperate to know how I could alleviate the pain faster if it happened again in the future. Here's what I found out.
Pinched nerves generally occur because a bone or some other structure within the body is placing undue pressure upon a nerve or bundle of nerves. This frequently results in the "pins and needles" feeling when your foot or hand is asleep, but it is also responsible for that shooting pain in the back or neck that can happen after you have slept in an odd position.
In general, pinched nerves go away on their own, and the healing time can range anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. However, ongoing problems with pressured nerves can end up doing more sustained damage. A good example of this is the development of carpel tunnel syndrome. So if the issue persists, you should have a conversation with your doctor.
Taking an anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can help ease the intensity of the pain coming from the aggravated nerve. But you should still be sure that you do not strain yourself or try to stretch out the sore area too quickly.
If it's at all possible, contact a chiropractor in your area. There is little that a general practitioner can do for you except encourage you to continue taking pain relievers (unless, as I mentioned earlier, the problem is becoming more serious), but many chiropractors focus on alleviating exactly this kind of pain so you can find relief faster than you would by simply allowing it to dissipate on its own.
One home remedy that was recommended to me suggested that I roll up a towel or a blanket and lie down so that it was directly under my shoulder blades and lie still for about an hour. Supposedly this helps to realign everything, moving the pressure off of the affected nerve. This did help me a little, though it wasn't exactly a cure.
Author Resource:-
Mercer Island Chiropractic (http://www.mercerislandchiropractic.com/) experts at spinal reconstructive care. We get amazing results with our patients because our techniques are revolutionary, state of the art and our patients truly understand chiropractic Bellevue and health.
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