Struggling with a pinched nerve that’s ruining your day? You might be turning to ice or heat therapy – but which one is needed in your case, and how does this differ from other body areas?
In this guide, we’ll explore how to use ice and heat properly to manage the painful phases of a pinched nerve.
Is Ice or Heat Best For My Pinched Nerve?
Alternating between cold and hot treatments can be beneficial for dealing with pinched nerves, aiding in the decrease of pain and inflammation. The key is knowing which areas of the body to apply each treatment:
- For a pinched nerve in the neck, do not apply ice or heat directly. Use warm heat on your shoulders and upper back.
- For your shoulder area, applying an ice pack for 15-20 minutes several times per day can be effective. You can alternate this with heat packs.
- For a lower back or leg pinched nerve, heat is best – except when you have pain in the middle of your low back (at the spine) – you should use an ice pack without heat until professional assessment.
Why so? If you have a disc injury such as a common disc herniation, you don’t want to be adding extra heat to this inflamed area.
Ice and heat treatments shouldn’t be used at the same time, or immediately after each other. As a general rule, alternate between cold and warm compresses every few hours throughout the day until symptoms improve.
Moreover, utilizing OTC meds such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help with the inflammation and soreness connected with pinched nerves.
If self-care techniques do not bring respite within a few days, consult a professional such as your GP or chiropractor for a more in-depth look. Physical therapy exercises are a good option too.
Both cold and heat can be effective in relieving pinched nerve pain, but there are important considerations when applying them, to get the best effect. Let’s go over the details on how to apply these treatments for relief.
Key Takeaway
Alternating between cold and hot compresses can help reduce pain and inflammation caused by pinched nerves, but never use both at the same time. If self-care measures fail to provide relief within a few days, consult a professional.
How to Apply Ice and Heat to a Pinched Nerve Area
Ice:
- Don’t apply ice packs directly onto your skin – instead, wrap an ice pack in a thin cloth.
- Apply to the painful area for 15 minutes at a time.
Ice helps reduce swelling and inflammation around the nerves while also numbing any discomfort felt from them being compressed against nearby bones or tissue structures such as muscles or ligaments.
Heat therapy works by increasing circulation around your nerves and helping relax tight muscles that could be causing pressure on them – similar effects are achieved with massage therapy too but with less risk of further injury if done incorrectly.
Heat:
- Choose a heat pack that is safe and easy to use. Options include microwavable packs, electric heating pads, and hot water bottles.
- Place the heat pack on the affected area for 20 minutes at a time.
- Always use a cloth barrier between the heat pack and your skin to prevent burns or irritation.
- Don’t fall asleep with the heat pack on.
Key Takeaway
Heat helps relax soft tissues and promotes blood flow to aid healing. This is best used for old injuries like previous muscle tears that occasionally ache. Ice reduces swelling and inflammation around the nerve; alternating between these two therapies can be a good strategy for relief.
Understanding Pinched Nerves
A pinched nerve occurs when either a spinal or peripheral nerve becomes compressed or irritated. Signs will often include pain, prickling, lack of normal feeling, and sometimes muscle spasms or a cramping feeling.
Exploring these symptoms a little further can help you work out if you have nerve pinching.
Pain
Pain from a pinched nerve can range from mild to severe depending on its location and severity. The most common locations for pain are in the neck, upper back (shoulder blade), lower back, and back of the thigh and buttock (Sciatica).
Pain may be localized to one area or radiate outwards towards, even to the shoulder and hand in the case of radiculopathy – a type of nerve pinching similar to sciatica.
Tingling
Tingling sensations are often experienced with a pinched nerve due to decreased blood flow caused by compression of the affected nerves. This sensation usually begins in one area but may spread outward if left untreated over time.
Numbness
Numbness is another symptom associated with a pinched nerve which occurs when there is reduced circulation due to pressure placed on an affected area’s nerves resulting in less feeling than normal throughout that region of the body.
Radiating discomfort, often referred to as “referred pain,” is a symptom associated with pinched nerves that describes any type of discomfort felt beyond the site of injury. These radiating symptoms can range from minor to serious depending on the extent of nerve constriction.
Pro Tip: Many people present to the chiropractor’s office complaining of a pinched nerve. However, the problem is often a joint sprain in the spine or rib joints or a lumbar disc issue.
Pinched Nerve Diagnosis
Physical examination is the initial step in diagnosing a pinched nerve, with range of motion tests (ROM) to identify painful areas and limited movement, as well as neurological tests like muscle strength or reflex testing to assess nerve function.
ROM tests can be used to identify if the nerve is pinched or not. Neurological tests such as muscle strength testing assess nerve function.
Imaging tests like X-rays and MRIs provide an inside look at the affected area, allowing for a more precise diagnosis. Lastly, electromyography (EMG) measures electrical activity in muscles and helps determine if there’s damage to the nerves that control them.
Range of motion tests involve moving your body in different directions, noting the areas where you experience pain, stiffness, or weakness.
Reflex testing looks at how quickly certain muscles respond when tapped on with a small hammer – this test helps detect potential nerve damage as well as possible causes such as spinal cord compression or disc herniation.
An MRI scan is preferred to an X-ray for diagnosing pinched nerves due to its ability to provide a more detailed view of soft tissues like discs between vertebrae which may be compressing nearby nerves and causing inflammation.
FAQ
Can heat make a pinched nerve worse?
Yes, heat can make a pinched nerve worse in some cases. If you have inflammation or swelling, heat can cause these symptoms to worsen, leading to increased pain and discomfort.
Is it OK to ice a pinched nerve?
Yes, ice can be very effective for reducing pain and inflammation caused by a pinched nerve. Applying ice to the affected area can help to numb the pain and reduce swelling, providing relief from symptoms.
Is a heating pad good for a pinched nerve?
A heating pad can be beneficial for a pinched nerve if used correctly. Heat can help to increase blood flow and relax tense muscles, which can reduce pain and discomfort.
However, it is important to make sure the heat is not too hot and to avoid using a heating pad for too long, as this can cause burns or worsen inflammation.
How do I know if I have a pinched nerve?
If you experience symptoms like numbness and/or tingling with painful movement, you may have a pinched nerve. Additionally, certain conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome can cause similar symptoms but require different treatments than those used for treating pinched nerves in the neck or shoulder blade.
Is ice or heat better for relieving pain from a pinched nerve?
Both ice and heat are effective methods of providing relief from the discomfort associated with minor pinched nerves, such as in the shoulder blade or forearm.
Ice packs reduce swelling and inflammation while also numbing the area to provide immediate relief from acute pain; whereas heat pads increase circulation for muscle suppleness.
Conclusion
To determine which treatment is most suitable for a pinched nerve, multiple elements should be taken into account such as the intensity of your symptoms, and how the issue started.
Once a diagnosis has been made and the cause of your pinched nerve identified, ice or heat may be used alongside proper physical treatment like chiropractic care and physical therapy.
Author Bio
Dr. Jason Whealing is a Chiropractor with extensive experience across the UK and Australia. He is passionate about family care and injury management. The cases Jason works with daily include back pain, neck pain, jaw pain, sciatica, knee pain, shoulder pain, headaches and migraine.
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