Pinched Nerve Treatment

Integrating Pinched Nerve Treatment into Your Schedule

If you‘re suffering from a pinched nerve, treatment may seem inconvenient and unsuited to your busy schedule. However, it‘s important to remember that if a pinched nerve goes untreated or worsens, the symptoms can become so debilitating that your busy life may be put on hold. The best course of action for a pinched nerve is to talk to your doctor about conservative, non-operative treatments to manage the pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness that can accompany this condition.

Daily Care of Your Back and Neck

Pinched nerve treatment does not always have to come in the form of physical therapy sessions or yoga classes. There are a variety of ways that you can take care of a pinched nerve and promote the healing process throughout your day:

• At work – if you sit in front of a computer for long periods each day, make sure that your chair is ergonomically designed with lumbar support. Also, try taking short breaks every hour to walk and stretch. If you stand for the majority of your day, practice proper posture and make sure you don‘t exaggerate the curves of your upper and lower back.
• Leisure time – stay active, but avoid high-impact activities that will put undue stress on your spine. Instead of jogging or lifting weights, try walking, hiking, swimming, or resistance band exercises. Always avoid lifting heavy objects.
• While sleeping – make sure your mattress has lumbar support and that your pillow has cervical support. A medium-firm mattress is preferable and, if you sleep on your side, put a pillow between your knees so that your spine does not “collapse” into a curved position. The goal is to help support your spine in its neutral s-shaped curve as you sleep.

Other Beneficial Forms of Pinched Nerve Treatment

Talk to your doctor about integrating other conservative treatments into the above lifestyle modifications. He or she may suggest pain medication, cold compresses, heat therapy, periods of rest, or massage. If weeks or months of these methods prove ineffective and your pinched nerve symptoms become chronic or debilitating, your doctor may suggest that you consider surgery. If you feel that a highly invasive, open back or neck surgery is not for you, contact a Laser Spine Institute consultation facility today. Our minimally invasive procedures are the safe and effective alternative to open back or neck surgery. In fact, each month more people come to Laser Spine Institute to relieve their neck and back pain than to any other spine surgery center in the world.