You’ve been working at your desk for a few hours when suddenly your arm starts to tingle. You feel something sharp pierce through your skin, and the sensation only grows more intense as you struggle to continue typing. Trying to ignore the discomfort, you keep working until finally – Ouch! That was it. You’ve been pinched by a trapped nerve and now you have no choice but to take a break. What do you do in this case? Let us answer that question right now: don’t panic! Because there are plenty of things that you can do in order to relieve this type of nerve pinch as soon as possible. Keep reading if you want answers on how to treat a pinched nerve, from the most common solutions to less common alternatives at home or at the doctor’s office.
What is a Pinched Nerve?
When a nerve gets pinched, it causes an injury – or abrasion – at the site of the pinch. This inflammation is an indication that the nerve is in some sort of pain, so even though the area looks clean, we can assume that it is hurting. A pinched nerve is a very common occurrence that can happen to anyone who is sitting at a desk for long hours without moving or stretching their limbs. This is why it is so important to take regular breaks or stretch your muscles. Another important fact is that a nerve pinch is not the same thing as a nerve disease. While a pinched nerve is a condition that can be caused by poor posture, nerve disease is something that affects the nerves.
What is a Pinched Nerve?
Causes
When you sit for long hours, your body loses muscle strength, which can lead to a nerve pinch. As you keep sitting, you start to have a specific type of posture that is known as “computer posture.” When you have this posture, your shoulders are rounded forward and your head is forward and downwards. This is known as “postural orthostatic hypotension,” and it is a very common cause of a nerve pinch. Sitting for too long can also cause nerve damage due to the pressure that the muscles place on the nerves.
Sitting for too long can also cause nerve damage.
Common areas of pinched nerve occurrence
When you’ve been sitting for long hours, your neck and shoulder muscles become extremely tight. This places pressure on the nerves that pass through your neck, which is one of the most common places to experience a nerve pinch. Another common location of a nerve pinch is the hands. When you’ve been typing for an extended period, you can experience a sudden sensation of pain in your fingers or wrists, which is a sign that a nerve has been pinched. If you’ve been lifting weights or doing other strenuous activities that have put pressure on your joints, you may experience sudden, sharp pain in your wrists or fingers. When you have a nerve pinch in your hands, it can be quite hard to type or do other tasks that involve fine motor control.
Treatment of a pinched nerve in the San Diego area
Once you’ve successfully diagnosed a nerve pinch, try to relax and take a break from work for a few hours. In this time, try to take as much time away from your computer as possible and try to stretch your muscles. If you have a sitting posture that puts pressure on your muscles and nerves, try to change your posture or get yourself up and moving while taking a break. As soon as you can, see your doctor or a Chiropractor (DR. Flora Hyacinth, D.C. is highly recommended for decompression therapy) and let them know about your problem. In many cases, you may be able to get an injection that will ease your symptoms. See your health care provider if the signs and symptoms of a pinched nerve last for several days and don’t respond to self-care measures, such as rest and over-the-counter pain relievers.
Conclusion
A nerve pinch is when too much pressure is applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues, which causes pain and tingling in the area where the nerve is located. This can happen when you are sitting for long hours or when you are experiencing sudden pain in your hands. When this happens, try to relax and take a break from work for a few hours while stretching your muscles and taking some time away from your computer. Contact San Diego Neuropathy today and see how DR. Flora Hyacinth, D.C. can help, or you can also see your doctor and ask them to look at your neck and see if there is anything that is preventing you from moving properly.
