Does a Pinched Nerve Require Medical Treatment?

Pinched nerves are a common — and surprisingly painful — condition that happens when a nerve somewhere in your body gets under too much pressure. That pressure might come from surrounding muscles, tendons, bones, or cartilage, and symptoms can range from uncomfortable to debilitating.

If you think you have a pinched nerve, you probably wonder what to do next. Do you need medical treatment? Or will your symptoms go away on their own?

While mild pinched nerves can heal on their own, it’s important to recognize when your symptoms necessitate professional care. David A. Wiles, MD, and our team can help. Here’s what you need to know about the common symptoms of pinched nerves and what treatments can help.

Understanding pinched nerves

You have hundreds of nerves throughout your body. They’re responsible for sending electrical signals between your body and brain, and a pinched nerve develops when inflammation restricts healthy nerve function.

Pinched nerves can develop almost anywhere in your body, including your neck, back, shoulders, arms, and legs. Symptoms can include:

• Sharp or burning pain
• Tingling
• Numbness
• Weakness

These sensations range in severity and may worsen with specific movements or positions. In more severe cases, symptoms can significantly impact your daily activities and quality of life.

When to go to the doctor for a pinched nerve

Pinched nerves are painful, but the good news is that you can manage most mild cases with self-care measures like rest, gentle stretching, and over-the-counter pain relievers. However, certain signs and symptoms warrant prompt medical evaluation.

Make an appointment for your pinched nerve if you experience:

• Persistent or worsening pain
• Worsening numbness or weakness
• Difficulty performing daily tasks

It’s critical to seek medical treatment if the pain from a pinched nerve persists despite rest and home remedies. Loss of sensation or muscle weakness associated with a pinched nerve may indicate nerve damage — and if the pinched nerve interferes with your ability to perform routine activities, professional care is essential.

Treatment options for pinched nerves

Dr. Wiles and our team take a comprehensive approach to pain management. For pinched nerves, our goal is to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and restore normal nerve function.

Based on your needs, we develop a personalized treatment plan. Typically, we start with conservative measures and progress to more advanced treatments if you still have pain.

Conservative care

To start conservative care, we recommend adjusting your daily habits and posture to help alleviate pressure on the affected nerve. We might also prescribe physical therapy to strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and ease pressure on the pinched nerve.

Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help reduce inflammation and alleviate mild to moderate pain associated with pinched nerves. Sometimes, we might prescribe other medications like muscle relaxers.

Advanced treatment

We might discuss treatments like corticosteroid injections, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), or spinal cord stimulation for more severe or persistent pinched nerves.

A corticosteroid injection into the affected area can help reduce inflammation and relieve pain associated with pinched nerves. RFA is a minimally invasive procedure that targets and disrupts the nerve signals responsible for transmitting pain and can provide long-lasting pain relief. Spinal cord stimulation involves implanting a device near your spinal cord that delivers electrical impulses to interrupt pain signals before they reach your brain.

Many pinched nerves get managed with conservative care — but if you still have pain after a few days of rest, it’s time to get a professional’s help. You can book a consultation with Dr. Wiles and our team to get a diagnosis and a personalized plan to start healing.

Call our office at 423-459-9800 or request an appointment online. We’re in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and serve patients in Bristol, Kingsport, and Johnson City.