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What to look for
tenderness, tingling, or
numbness in one part of your body, often a limb.
pins and needles,
burning, or tearing pain where a nerve is being irritated
Most of us have experienced
the numbness of a limb when we realise we have been lying on it the wrong way. The
numbness we feel eventually gives way to ‘pins and needles’ a tingling sensation
in the affected area. In fact any pressure applied to a nerve by the surrounding tissue
will produce this discomfort and will interrupt the nerve's functioning.
The pinching can occur for
many reasons… pregnancy, lying on the area, an injury, repetitive motions, or joint
disease, to name just a few. Nerves passing over bones are particularly vulnerable.
The most typical pinched
nerves are the ones which extend down the arms or legs, the nerves in your feet and
between your disks in the spine as well as the nerve which travels from your spine to your
foot (see Sciatica).
A pinched nerve is usually
healed within a few days to a week with treatment. More chronic cases can leave permanent
problems.
Causes
Pressure on a peripheral
nerve from the surrounding tissue causes inflammation of the nerve.
Another common cause of
nerve irritation is a damaged spinal disk commonly known as a slipped disk, Heavy lifting, obesity, and contact sports can contribute to the problem.
Traditional Treatment
You may need to stop or
reorganise the activity which is the cause of your uncomfortable condition. Your doctor
may suggest wearing a splint, brace, or some other support and may also recommend a
physical therapist to help you reinforce the muscles in the affected area.
Alternative/Natural
Treatments
Herbal Therapies -
Try
a tea combining equal parts of
St.-John's wort
(Hypericum perforatum),
skullcap (Scutellaria
lateriflora), and
Siberian ginseng
(Eleutherococcus senticosus). Try
a tea combining equal parts of
St.-John's wort
(Hypericum perforatum),
skullcap (Scutellaria
lateriflora), and
Siberian ginseng
(Eleutherococcus senticosus).
Homoeopathy -
For
low-back pain that feels better when warmth is applied, try
Rhus toxicodendron. Taking Arnica when your back pain follows an injury may
lessen symptoms. Professional advice is required for proper dosages. For
low-back pain that feels better when warmth is applied, try
Rhus toxicodendron. Taking Arnica when your back pain follows an injury may
lessen symptoms. Professional advice is required for proper dosages.
Dietary Considerations
Taking lecithin with meals
may help regenerate nerves. Nerve impulse conduction may benefit from calcium chelate.
Prevention
Try to avoid the tasks that
you know are going to aggravate the condition. When avoidance is impossible, perform the
motions for short periods of time with breaks in between.
When to seek further
professional advice
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