Your pinched nerve might not be healing due to an underlying issue like a herniated disc, bone spur, or spinal stenosis, repetitive motions, poor posture, or systemic conditions like diabetes, delaying relief from rest and home care. If symptoms persist past a few days or weeks, worsen, or cause weakness, it's a red flag for a more serious problem needing a doctor to identify the cause and recommend treatments like physical therapy, injections, or potentially surgery, to prevent permanent damage.
Mildly pinched nerves often resolve on their own with at-home care, like rest. Moderately pinched nerves may need some medical care, like physical therapy or corticosteroids. Severely pinched nerves — including those that result from chronic conditions like spinal stenosis — may be long-lasting.
Symptoms of pregnancy related nerve compression syndrome
Tingling. Burning. Pain. Numbness.
Yes, a pinched nerve in the cervical spine can cause swelling. The cervical spine contains nerves that control movement and sensation in the neck, shoulders, and arms. So, when these nerves are compressed, inflammation occurs, resulting in swelling.
Many pinched nerves will heal within four to six weeks following at-home treatments. But for those with more severe symptoms that require surgery, it may take four to eight weeks for initial recovery wearing a sling, with full muscle recovery taking up to a year.
Severe nerve compression that lasts more than six weeks can cause permanent muscle loss and nerve damage. You should see your healthcare provider early about symptoms so you can start the appropriate treatment.
During recovery, exercise is incredibly important not just to help your muscles regain function, but also to increase blood flow throughout your body. This, in turn, speeds nerve healing. Likewise, inactivity slows progress. You don't want to overdo it, but the more you move your muscles, the better.
Overall, try to avoid sudden movements as well. This goes for the whole body, but especially for the area of the nerve damage. Any sudden jerk-like motions will cause a stress response in the body, tensing up all nerves and muscles and making the pinched nerve much worse.
Conditions often mistaken for a pinched nerve include muscle strains, herniated discs, arthritis (like bone spurs), muscle spasms, carpal tunnel syndrome, and sacroiliac joint dysfunction, as they share symptoms like pain, tingling, or numbness, but differ in their underlying cause, requiring proper diagnosis for effective treatment.
Pinched nerve symptoms include:
If symptoms don't improve after several weeks to a few months of conservative treatments, you may need surgery. Surgery can take pressure off the nerve. The type of surgery varies depending on the location of the pinched nerve. Surgery may involve removing bone spurs or a part of a herniated disk in the spine.
While the symptoms commonly occur near the pinched nerve, its effects can radiate, causing discomfort in other parts of the body. A pinched nerve can cause referred pain, which is where your pain spreads beyond the immediate area of the nerve compression.
Sciatica occurs when a large nerve in the lower back becomes compressed and sends intense pain radiating down the leg. Back pain is one of the most common symptoms of pregnancy, particularly in the second and third trimesters. Some discomfort is normal as the belly expands.
MRIs are able to provide in-depth information on not only the spinal cord but individual nerves as well. There is a good chance that an MRI should be able to detect a pinched nerve. This can confirm the suspicions of a doctor.
These treatments might include:
As such, when steroids are used, the body doesn't produce the same level of inflammation-causing components, reducing swelling in the affected area(s). Your doctor may give you an injection of a corticosteroid near the impinged nerve, or prescribe oral steroids such as prednisone for a more systemic effect.
Both conditions can cause discomfort and potentially lead to nerve compression or irritation, but a herniated disc is generally considered more severe due to the direct exposure of the inner disc material.
Pain associated with a pinched nerve can be minor or severe. It most frequently occurs along the spinal cord but can also happen in other parts of the body, such as the wrists and hands.
Symptoms Related to Damaged Nerves
Some home remedies for a pinched nerve may include:
Signs that a nerve is healing often include a gradual return of sensation, tingling, or a “pins and needles” feeling in the affected area. You might also notice improved muscle strength or coordination over time. Healing can be slow, and progress may come in small increments.
B Complex - The most effective combination for treating damaged nerves. B vitamins like B12, B6, B3, B1 are essential for nerve health. These vitamins can help with the healing of nerve damage and relieve nerve damage symptoms like numbness and tingling—this is why they are called 'neurotropic' vitamins.