How To Treat A Pinched Nerve

Rest The Affected Area

When the inflamed area is constantly being used, it is at risk for additional damage and pain. Like a broken bone or a torn ligament, it is crucial to rest the part of the body affected by the pinched nerve. When patients rest the affected area, they are giving it more time to heal, which will lead to faster relief. Individuals with a pinched nerve should get extra sleep and take it easy.

For many individuals, getting enough sleep and resting the affected area is all they need for it to heal on its own. By catching the injury early and resting it soon after, patients can give their body more time to recover without exacerbating the injury. When sleeping with a pinched nerve, it is essential to choose a position that relieves pressure from the affected area. It is also important to avoid movements that irritate the area or cause a flare-up of symptoms to limit additional injury.

Lose Excess Weight

In certain cases of pinched nerves, but not all, it may help patients to lose excess weight. One of the main risk factors for developing nerve compression is extreme weight changes. This includes both sudden weight gain and sudden weight loss. There have been cases of pinched nerves where the compression comes from body fat pushing on the nerve's surface. If the weight gain is sudden, it may add unusual force to the nerve's outside and lead to damage.

At the same time, a 2008 report found a patient with anorexia nervosa had pinched nerve injuries due to the extreme fat shifts in the patient's body from the extreme weight loss. If the compression is caused by excess fat, weight loss may help. However, the majority of cases are not related to weight gain. Therefore, doctors should first consider other treatment methods before defaulting to weight loss.