Acupuncture: An Effective Pinched Nerve Treatment

 

A pinched nerve occurs when there is too much pressure on a nerve by surrounding tissues, which can cause symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or a burning sensation. This is a common condition which can be caused by injury, bad posture, or a degenerative disease. Treatments for pinched nerves typically include anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen or naproxen.

Steroid injections are also another common pinched nerve treatment. While these conventional treatments can be effective, they do nothing to cure the root of the problem, and not to mention, there are possible side effects as well. This is why people are starting to go for alternative treatments, including acupuncture. The question is: is acupuncture really an effective pinched nerve treatment? This article will address the effectiveness of acupuncture in detail.

How Acupuncture Can Help

 

Acupuncture has been used to treat acute and chronic pain for a very long time now. Even so, people are only beginning to understand the process and how acupuncture really works as a method of pain relief. Pain is believed to be a symptom of stagnant qi and blood. According to Ancient Chinese Medicine (ACM), qi is a vital force that surges through the body at all times. Practitioners of ACM believe that when qi is deficient, unbalanced or stagnant it causes you to feel tired, stressed, or to feel pain in the knee, back, or other areas of the body. Qi stagnation and blood stagnation can be a result of injury, overexertion, poor posture, or chronic emotional distress.

Regardless of the cause, the symptoms of qi and blood stagnation typically include swelling, stiffness, and pain – which are identical to what western doctors refer to as inflammation. Practitioners of ACM assert that acupuncture can improve the flow of qi and blood, while also helping with inflammation so you can find relief from pain. Moreover, acupuncture and oriental medicine can relieve pain by releasing endorphins and modifying the way that pain signals are recognized by the brain.

When receiving acupuncture treatment for pinched nerves, thin needles are inserted through the skin in the problem areas or other areas (collectively called “acupuncture points”)- depending on the symptoms. Along with acupuncture, your acupuncturist may also perform trigger point therapy, which is a technique for releasing knots in the muscles to ease the pain and tension.

People who have a pinched nerve from poor posture and muscle tension can benefit from this particular treatment. In addition, your acupuncturist can also demonstrate the stretches and certain exercises that you can do at home to improve your symptoms before your next session.

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How to Relieve Symptoms at Home

 

Even if your pain and inflammation have been somewhat relieved after your acupuncture session, it is still crucial that you continue to take care of yourself afterwards. Get a lot of rest and avoid any physical activities that can worsen your condition. Also, try to keep your posture in check, particularly if you spend most of your day sitting in front of a computer. Make sure that your feet are flat on the ground, your knees are at a 90-degree angle, and your back is straight.

For people who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, a wrist brace is recommended to wear at night and, if possible, throughout the day. Neck braces, on the other hand, are not recommended for pinched nerves as they can restrict the movement of your neck, making the symptoms worse. Instead, use heat or ice packs on your pain areas for around ten to fifteen minutes and multiple times a day. Heat packs are found to be helpful for pinched nerves while ice packs are more helpful for inflammation. If you are using ice packs, make sure that you wrap it with a towel first to protect your skin. You can try both to determine which one is more effective for you.

If you’re looking to book an acupuncture session or physical therapy treatment in Edmonton, Alberta, Glenora Chiropractic & Physiotherapy Clinic is your best option. Your initial consultation appointment will take about one hour, and you will notice the best results after several acupuncture treatments over the course of a few weeks.

Get in touch with us today to find out how acupuncture can help! Our experts will provide you with a personalized treatment plan. 

2 Comments

  • Phyllis Hoffman says:

    I have a pinched nerve in my lower back causing numbness when I stand for 5 minutes or longer. Sitting down relieves the numbness. There is no pain, but my leg goes completely numb u til I sit down. I have sciatica. I have had a spacer put in and injections, but numbness still occurs. Can acupuncture stop the numbness?

  • Barry says:

    Hi , have pinched nerve at L4and 5 right side . Leg numb and even swollen , hard to sit and stand up , will acupunture help ?

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