When bone, muscle, cartilage or tendons apply pressure to a nerve, the condition is known as radiculopathy, or a pinched nerve. Symptoms typically include numbness, muscle weakness, a tingling sensation and/or sharp, radiating pain in the affected area. Poor posture, obesity, osteoarthritis, an inherited predisposition and frequent use of repetitive movements increase the chances of developing a pinched nerve, notes MayoClinic.com. There are a few ways to ease the pain associated with a pinched nerve at home, though some treatments depend on the location, severity and duration of individual cases.
Step 1
Rest the area affected by the pinched nerve, which MayoClinic.com explains is the most basic and most commonly prescribed treatment for the condition. Discontinue any repetitive motions that caused, contributed to or aggravates the pain.
Step 2
Freeze an ice pack or fill a plastic baggie with crushed or cubed ice and wrap it in a few paper towels. Apply the ice compress to the area that hurts for a few minutes, as the St. John Providence Health System recommends.
Step 3
Take over-the-counter pain medications that treat pain associated with inflammation. Opt for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, such as naproxen or ibuprofen, suggests MayoClinic.com.
Step 4
Wear a splint, brace or soft collar over the affected area to keep it steady and prevent straining or irritating the pinched nerve. Find several types of splints, braces and gloves at most drug stores, or visit a medical supply store or your doctor.
Step 5
Talk to your doctor about prescription pain killers if over-the-counter products fail to ease the pain. Take prescription-strength NSAIDs, oral corticosteroids or spinal steroid injections if your doctor advises it, says the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Step 6
Undergo physical therapy for strength and flexibility training, suggests the University of California, Davis, Health System. Ask your physical therapist for suggestions for modifying activities that trigger pain from the pinched nerve.
Step 7
Talk to your doctor about surgery to relieve the pressure on the nerve if pain doesn't clear up within a month or so of resting and caring for the area, says MayoClinic.com. Inquire about the type of surgery needed, as it depends on the location of the pinched nerve.
Tips and Warnings
- Pick up a bowler's splint for pain from carpal tunnel syndrome or a pinched nerve in the wrist or forearm, suggests the St. John Providence Health System.
Things You'll Need
- Ice pack
- NSAIDs
- Splint or brace
