On average, every 5th person complains of back pain. Only every second of them immediately seeks qualified help, and all the rest at home are using improvised means to get rid of burning and unbearable pain. Few people think about the consequences of self-medication, but this discomfort can be caused by a pinched nerve. Symptoms of this ailment can occur sharply, and then go away by themselves. But this does not mean that the problem is resolved, specialist advice is necessary.
What is pinching?
A nerve pinched occurs at a time when the nerve endings that extend from the spinal cord are compressed by adjacent vertebrae or any other obstruction, such as:
- hernias;
- muscle spasms;
- tendons;
- tumors;
- protrusion;
- and others.
Pinched nerve endings are accompanied by severe stitching, burning and shooting pain. There are many forms. The most common in patients is pinching of the sciatic nerve and cervical.
Depending on the location of the pain syndrome, several types of pathology are distinguished:
- sciatica - pain responds in the sacrum, buttocks and back of the leg;
- lumbar ischialgia - pain is felt in the lumbar region, buttocks and back of the leg;
- lumbalgia - pain in the back, and especially in the lower back;
- cervicobrachialgia - discomfort in the neck and arm;
- cervicalgia - cervical pain.
A patient suffering from an acute attack of pain may also feel numbness in a number of muscles, and his internal systems fail. It all depends on which of the nerves was pinched. In addition, it is necessary to distinguish between the pinching of what type of nerve occurred - sensitive, autonomic or motor. If the first type was affected, then the person turns to the doctor and complains of bouts of severe pain, which he simply cannot tolerate. When pinched nerves of the second and third types, the doctor’s help is delayed, since most often this leads to serious complications.
Causes
The human spine takes maximum load when lifting weights and abrupt movements on themselves. The back reacts sharply to such stress, as a result of which a nerve is pinched in the weakest part of the spine. Among the main risk factors are the following:
- overload that occurs during sports or lifting weights;
- long stay in one pose, this applies to office workers;
- constant tension of the spine, which often happens with pregnant women;
- hypothermia;
- the consequence of long illnesses, this may also apply to colds;
- uncomfortable posture during sleep;
- too soft or, conversely, hard bed;
- overweight.
Many people need qualified treatment for pinched nerves between the ribs or directly in the spine. At the junction of the ribs and vertebrae, a change in their position leads to clamping. In rare cases, pinching can occur even due to the fact that a person simply abruptly turned or sighed. In this case, the pain can be so strong that there is simply no strength to endure it. Pain can be chronic or acute. But in rare cases, it can occur only during sudden movements, coughing or sneezing.
Symptoms of infringement in the sacral and lumbar
Many patients believe that pain in the lumbar region is caused by fatigue, and they hope that after a good rest everything goes away. But the pain shooting and finding in waves may not pass, but only intensify. The main symptoms of pinched nerve in the sacrum and lower back are:
- it is difficult to confuse this pain with any other, as it has a shooting and piercing character;
- it is clearly localized;
- in pregnant women and women who have given birth, often pinches nerves;
- muscle cramps come after the pain, it is difficult for the patient to change position;
- if the discomfort is localized on the right side, then it seems that this is discomfort in the liver;
- for pain on the left side, it seems that it worries the spleen or heart.
If the problem is only related to muscle tension, then after a rest everything will pass quickly. Therefore, do not confuse fatigue with a pinched nerve. The sciatic is considered the most vulnerable, and all because of its large length. It originates in the spine and stretches to the feet. When it is pinched, some patients have to treat paralyzed legs.
Nerve endings in the lower part of the spine can also be impaired for the following reasons:
- the position of the spinal disc has changed;
- disrupted pelvic organs;
- a tumor appeared.
If you do not pay attention to the symptoms of pinched nerve and do not start treatment, then the next sign may be numbness of the pelvis, disruption of the urinary apparatus and weakening of the lower extremities.
Symptoms of pinching in the neck and shoulder
In this area, clamping is quite rare. The most common cause may be a sharp turn of the head or hypothermia. Pinched nerve endings in the neck is a rare case, but one of the most dangerous. As complications, complete or partial paralysis can occur. If you do not take any measures and start the infringement in the shoulder area, then inflammation and neurological diseases can develop.
It is possible to pinch a nerve in the cervical region during sleep with severe alcohol intoxication, when a person simply does not control his movements and does not feel that the pose he has taken is uncomfortable.
Symptoms of infringement in the area of the shoulder blades and chest
With infringement in the area of the shoulder blades, the ailment can manifest itself in the form of severe shooting pain. Many patients think that this is due to heart disease, but this is not so at all. But there are those who believe that the problem is in the lungs.
If the infringement manifests itself in the chest area, then the pain may not always be the first symptom, most often the patient loses mobility, in addition:
- the spot on the skin at the site of pinching blushes;
- in this place the muscles swell;
- temperature rises, sweating intensifies;
- pain syndrome appears for no reason and sharply.
Abuse during pregnancy
Almost every third woman, while carrying a child, feels that a nerve has pinched in her back, but she does not know what to do to get rid of discomfort. Pinched sciatic nerve and others can occur during labor, and all due to the fact that during this period the patient is very tense or the fetus is located incorrectly.
At this time, the spine feels an unusual load, and deformation occurs. After the birth of a baby, a sharp loss in body weight can be an additional stress for a woman. In order to prevent the development of intervertebral hernias and protrusions, timely treatment must be started.
Pinched nerve in the leg
Often people pinch a nerve ending in the lower leg, which is reflected by severe pain. But few people attach particular importance to such a symptom, referring to the fact that there was no rest and rest all day. But if you don’t immediately find the problem, then the consequences can be serious, one of them is swelling. If you do not start timely complex treatment of pinched nerves at home or in a hospital, following the recommendations of a specialist, then the consequences may be irreparable. In some cases, the infringement may be accompanied by tumors.
Therefore, if the patient feels a sharp stitching pain, and after she releases it and reappears, it is better to consult a doctor. He will schedule an examination to help establish a diagnosis. After treatment will be prescribed.
Diagnostic measures
Before you understand the main question, how to treat a pinched nerve, you need to know what measures help confirm the diagnosis.
Back pain can cause various diseases, so self-diagnosis should be ruled out.
Only a doctor can prescribe an examination after a visual examination of the patient. Find the cause and understand whether there is a pinched sciatic nerve or any other, will help:
- general blood analysis;
- manual research;
- MRI
- electrocardiogram.
An x-ray is made immediately in several different angles. The picture will make it possible to see whether the spine and intervertebral discs are in a stable position, whether there are any third-party pathologies that have affected muscles or bones.
It is better for the patient to undergo all the recommended examinations at once, because with their help it will be possible to exclude oncology, cardiological and neurological diseases.
Therapeutic methods
With nerve infringement in any part of the spine, treatment occurs in three stages:
- Elimination of pain. In this case, tablets, ointments or injections may be recommended to the patient. In order to cure the infringement, the patient needs to ensure complete rest, he should rest as long as possible, exclude salty and spicy foods from the diet.
- To remove inflammation is one of the main symptoms of pinching of the sciatic nerve, treatment begins with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The first and second stages are interconnected, therefore they are used simultaneously.
- After the pain and inflammation subsided, health workers begin to work on nerve repair. In this case, the following people will come to the rescue: a massage therapist, a manual therapist, an acupuncture specialist, a physical therapy trainer and a vitamin complex.
Medication for pinching
Among the medicines, the following have proven their effectiveness:
- Movalis will help relieve pain, which can be either taken orally or used as an injection.
- "Diclofenac" is one of the popular and inexpensive means that is used in the treatment of pinching of the sciatic nerve at home. But you need to remember that he has a large number of contraindications.
- Perfectly relieves pain "Ketonal", in addition, it is suitable for pregnant women.
- Ibuprofen is available in several forms, so it can be used as an injection or orally.
To quickly remove the symptoms of pinching of the sciatic nerve, ointments and gels are used for home treatment. With their help, you can quickly remove the pain syndrome. But before using them, it is better to consult a doctor:
- "Finalgon" helps to improve blood circulation in the affected tissues, its cost is available to everyone.
- Viprosal warms and relieves pain well.
- Betalgon effectively affects the supply of capillaries, due to which cell regeneration occurs and the pain recedes.
- "Flexen" has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect,
- Carmolis quickly relieves pain.
In addition, for those who have been pinched, the doctor may recommend wearing an orthopedic corset. It helps to support the back, due to which the distance between the vertebrae is freed, with time the inflammatory process goes away, the nerve is freed, and all the symptoms of the disease disappear. Today in the pharmacy you can buy corsets that are suitable for people with pinching in different parts of the spine. They are divided into thoracolumbar, lumbosacral, lumbar and for pregnant women. Therefore, there will be no difficulties with the choice, each patient will find his own option for himself.
Physiotherapy
After the attacks of acute pain with pinching of the sciatic nerve are removed, treatment can be fixed with the help of special exercises of exercise therapy:
- Crawling on the back is very effective. This will be especially useful for those who have had surgery.
- You can perform the exercise - while lying on your back, raise your chest from the floor.
- Having dropped to all fours, it is necessary to alternately raise and lower the back, resting in the middle position.
- In the supine position, hug your knees and swing on your back, only without sudden movements.
Physical therapy must be systematically practiced, not missing a day, only in this case it will bring results. You can perform the exercises under the supervision of a specialist in exercise therapy, who will monitor the correct execution and the condition of the spine.
Massage
If there is a pinching of the cervical nerve or any other, then the services of a massage therapist will help to cope with the disease. The simplest technique can be mastered by one of your close people. The patient needs to lie on a hard surface on his stomach, relax, stretch his arms along the torso. The session begins with light stroking.
The movements are strong, circular, from top to bottom. It is very important that the massage therapist, especially if he is a beginner, works with the muscles of the back, and not with the spine. Only a specialist therapist should work with him. After light stroking, you need to proceed to kneading and rubbing. The movements are smooth and intense.
During the massage, you can not make any pressing, strong and patting manipulations, because they can provoke complications. The session ends with light strokes. After it, the patient should get up slowly, without sudden movements.
Surgical intervention
In cases where conservative treatment has not brought relief and the patient still suffers from severe pain, surgery may be recommended. But it is carried out only if the pinch of the sciatic nerve happened due to an intervertebral hernia. This type of surgery is called "microdiscectomy." During it, the surgeon removes the tissue, pinched nerve endings. Recovery after surgery ranges from two weeks to three months.
Preventative methods
In order for the patient not to become a victim of pinching of the nerve endings in the spine, he just needs to take preventative measures into service. They will be useful for those who have already recovered from the disease and do not want the symptoms to return and bring inconvenience:
- You can not be in the cold or draft for a long time. Hypothermia can cause an inflammatory process in the body.
- The mattress on the bed should not be too soft and not hard. Both of these cases lead to the fact that the spine is distorted throughout the night, which leads to the fact that the vertebrae are slowly displaced. If possible, it is better to purchase an orthopedic mattress, which will help not only the spine to relax, but also the back muscles.
- Whenever possible, try to avoid sudden movements. If you have to lift weights in everyday life, then you first need to sit down, and then to lift a thing, while keeping your back straight. At this point, the spine should not be distorted.
- Try not to stand and sit in the same position, if possible. If your work is connected with a computer, then you need to do warm-up periodically.
- Keep track of body weight, because extra pounds increase the load on the back, and this happens all the time.
During pregnancy, women are advised to use special corsets or supporting underwear.
A pinched nerve can be prevented if you lead a healthy lifestyle, alternate physical activity and relaxation, and strengthen your muscle corset.