When you’re in pain, a few days can feel like an endless amount of time. With the sharp pain and numbness that result from a pinched nerve, you can be desperate for relief and may find yourself asking when you can expect to feel relief. The answer to this can vary based on the location of the nerve that is pinched and how severe the issue and its cause may be. As a part of hunting for neurologists in Tucker, it’s important to understand how pinched nerves work and what you can expect treatment to look like.
About Pinched Nerves
A pinched nerve occurs when the tissue surrounding a nerve places pressure on the nerve. This could come from a muscle, bone, cartilage, or tendon as a result of an injury, an illness or condition, or a range of other chronic issues. The pressure is enough to cut off function in the nerve, leading to sharp pain that can feel like burning, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness.
The feeling of your foot “falling asleep” after sitting in an awkward position is a temporary version of a pinched nerve. In more severe cases, the feeling lasts beyond when circulation returns. Generally speaking, pinched nerves take between a few days and months to heal. Pinched nerves related to an acute cause, such as poor posture and injury, will usually last less time than those associated with chronic conditions.
Location of Pinched Nerves
One of the biggest factors impacting the duration of a pinched nerve will be what part of the body that nerve is located in and what parts of your body it communicates with. This may also lead to differing symptoms, such as in these examples.
Neck
A nerve in the neck becoming pinched will usually lead to a tingling sensation and pain that can extend down the shoulders and arms. This is usually a result of injuries, repetitive motions, and unusual sleeping positions and shouldn’t last more than a few days in the absence of something like arthritis.
Lower Back
Herniated discs are one of the most common reasons you can experience a pinched nerve in the back, along with other injuries. This pain can be felt in the back, as well as the buttocks and down the leg, which is also known as sciatica. If a case of this pain isn’t resolved in a few days, it can lead to chronic back pain that lasts months.
Leg
The leg can develop a pinched nerve in response to herniated discs in the back and other injuries. Untreated, this can lead to peripheral neuropathy over the course of weeks and years.
Hip: Many injuries can cause a pinched nerve in the hips that will resolve quickly. If the pain persists beyond a few days, this could be a sign of arthritis or bone spurs or be caused by other factors like obesity.
Shoulder
Shoulder pain that originates in the upper spine due to a pinched nerve can be the result of an injury, arthritis, or tendinitis. A pinched nerve will cause sharp, sudden pain, usually in only one shoulder.
Wrist
Frequent typing is commonly a cause of pinched nerves in the wrist and can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome over time. Pain that lasts over two months or numbness that extends through the hand are signs of this condition.
Managing Pinched Nerve Pain
To alleviate the pain and potential numbness that comes with a pinched nerve, you may be able to rely on simple home remedies. In addition to relief, quick responses to these issues can help a pinched nerve ultimately heal faster.
Alternate ice and heat, rest the impacted area, and adjust your sleep posture and position as soon as you feel the pain begin. You may also use over-the-counter pain medication with anti-inflammatory properties to help with the pressure, and light stretches can encourage blood flow and movement.
If home remedies don’t help after a few days, it’s important to seek medical care. The underlying cause of your pain could be more serious than you realize or related to a chronic condition that requires a long-term treatment plan.
A neurologist will be able to use imaging tests and physical examinations to determine where the nerve is being pinched and how to best treat it. This may include physical therapy, splints and braces, and ongoing chiropractic care.
At AICA Tucker, our team will work to heal your pinched nerve as quickly as possible while developing methods for pain relief. Visit us today to begin your personalized treatment plan!