A pinched nerve is a condition that develops when the nerve experiences excessive pressure from surrounding muscles or tissues. As a result, the affected nerve causes pain, numbness, and weakness. There may be several reasons for the tissues to compress the nerves - injury, prolonged posture, stress, and obesity. Once the nerve is compressed, its normal function is disrupted and the symptoms of pain and numbness surfaces. Usually, a pinched nerve is a temporary condition and it goes away easily on its own or with some amount of physical therapy or medication. However, there are cases when the condition is more chronic and might need the intervention of a doctor. If you have experienced a pinched nerve in your lower back for quite some, it is advisable to consult a doctor and seek proper medical advice.
The first thing to do when you experience a pinched nerve is to rest the affected area. You should use proper sleeping mattresses that provide you with cushioning to relieve the pain. A proper chair is also important to maintain good spinal or back posture. It is important because we spend a lot of time sitting, and an incorrect or ill-designed chair may cause lot of stress on the nerves in our back. Preferably, choose a chair that can be adjusted to meet the needs of the person, and also use cushions in the chair if you need to provide more support to the back. You can also use back braces that provide support to your back and relieve the pain of a pinched nerve. Along with the braces, you can also provide a hot or cold compress to ease the pain. For a hot compress, you can heat up a moist washcloth in the microwave and apply it directly on the affected area. For a cold compress, you can use an ice pack to compress upon the affected area for about 15-20 minutes. You can also use the hot and cold compress method alternatively to get good result. There are also electric stimulation devices that can be used to relax and ease the pain. If you need to have quick relief you may also try out the various sprays, ointments, and other analgesics. Also, do some mild stretching exercises in consultation with a physiotherapist.
Besides these, you should also make some changes in your diet. Vitamin E and vitamin C, along with minerals like calcium, zinc, and copper are essential for healing the pinched nerve. If these vitamins and minerals are inadequate through dietary sources you can also get them as medical supplements from drug stores.
answered by G M