A pinched nerve can be a source of excruciating pain, and if it’s affecting your lower back, it may prevent you from doing even the simplest of activities without pain. A pinched or compressed nerve can occur if the surrounding tissue places too much pressure on the nerve. This can be due to things such as bones, cartilage, muscles or tendons pushing against the nerve, and the pressure may cause:
- Pain
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Weakness
Some pinched nerves may only cause mild discomfort and will resolve with proper rest in a few days. However, nerves that are severely compressed can cause intense pain for weeks and require some kind of intervention to heal.Â
Let’s take a look at some factors that can affect how long it will take for your pinched nerve to heal and what you can do to speed that process along.
What affects the healing of a pinched nerve?
A pinched nerve in your lower back can cause significant pain and may require some time to heal. However, there are a few things you can do at home to try to accelerate the healing process:
- Alternate ice and heat — Applying an ice pack or a heating pad for 15 to 20 minutes several times a day can help reduce pain due to a pinched nerve. Heat can help relax the muscles surrounding your nerve, while ice may help with swelling and inflammation.
- Rest — Trying to maintain your regular activities can aggravate the nerve and make your pain worse. This doesn’t just include standing activities, either. Certain seated positions or activities that require twisting or lifting can also make pinched nerve pain increase. Try to avoid any strenuous activities that might aggravate your nerves to give your body a chance to heal.
- Take OTC medication — Over-the-counter pain medication such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen can help manage mild pain. Be sure to follow the dosage instructions on the bottle.Â
- Move — Yes, rest is important (see point 2!). This may sound counterintuitive, but some mild exercise can help with nerve pain. Stretches and gentle exercises in the lumbar and abdomen area can provide some pain relief for lower back nerve pain.
- Make sleep modifications — Sleep is essential when healing any injury, but a poor sleeping position can actually aggravate a pinched nerve in your lower back. Talk to your doctor about sleeping positions that may be beneficial for your pain.
These factors can help improve nerve pain from a pinched nerve in the lower back. However, if your symptoms last for longer than a few days, are severe, or keep coming back, physical therapy may be an effective option to help your pain.
Your physical therapist can create a unique treatment plan to help you deal with your nerve pain. They may use methods such as manual therapy, dry needling and electrical stimulation to relax the tissue around your compressed nerve. They can also show you stretches and exercises to do at home to help speed up the healing process for your pinched nerve.
In serious cases when physical therapy can’t help your pinched nerve, your health care provider may recommend surgery as a last-resort treatment. This is especially true if the pinched nerve has sustained permanent damage.
Causes of a pinched nerve
There are a number of risk factors that can contribute to pinching a nerve in the lower back. For example:
- Being overweight or obese
- Improper lifting
- Not getting enough regular exercise
- Poor posture, especially due to computer work
- Repetitive movements
- Smoking
These things can all contribute to your likelihood of pinching a nerve in your lower back. Small lifestyle changes such as improving your posture, making sure to exercise properly and avoiding repetitive movements may help you reduce your chances of experiencing a pinched nerve.Â
However, not all pinched nerves are due to lifestyle activities. Some are due to conditions that you cannot control or change on your own, such as:Â
- Injury or accident
- Lumbar radiculopathy
- Herniated disc
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Sciatica
- Spinal fracture
- Spinal stenosis
- Spinal tumors
While these conditions don’t automatically mean you’ll end up with a pinched nerve, they can increase your chances of getting one. No matter what has caused your pinched nerve, there are things you can do to help your body heal.Â
Here at REPAIR SI, our team has expert knowledge on treating pinched nerves so you can get back to living your life without restrictions. If you need physical therapy for your pinched nerve, contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.