Can Massage Therapy Help A Pinched Nerve?

There are many ailments that massage therapy can help within a variety of ways. Massage therapy can alleviate stress, improve circulation and even reduce pain. This makes it a particularly useful form of therapy for many different types of conditions, chronic or otherwise.

One such condition is developing a pinched nerve. It is a fairly common condition that many far too many people experience, and if identified early on, can be treated using simple, non-invasive methods. This article will take you through all you need to know about pinched nerves and how massage therapy can fix them.

What Is A Pinched Nerve?

A nerve is said to have become pinched when the tissues around it are put under stress. These tissues can be bone, muscles, cartilage, or even tendons. When too much pressure is applied to the tissues surrounding the nerve, one may experience a tingling sensation, numbness, pain, or even feeling weak.

There are quite a few places in your body where you may experience a pinched nerve. You might feel it in your neck or shoulder, or even in your wrist or leg. The numbness or pain sensations may spread to nearby tissues, so if a nerve in your wrist is pinched, for example, you might feel its effects on your hand or in your fingers.

For most cases of a pinched nerve, you do not need surgery or other invasive procedures to treat it. As for all illnesses, the best course of action is early identification to get rid of a pinched nerve in the easiest and most painless ways possible. In some cases, you may have to visit a doctor to get your condition checked out, so be sure to visit a specialist to determine the best treatment approach.

Symptoms And Causes Of A Pinched Nerve

If you are experiencing the following sensations, chances are you have a pinched nerve in your body.

• A burning, sharp or aching feeling that feels like it is spreading or growing outwards
• Numbness in a particular area or a feeling like you are experiencing a loss of sensation in that area.
• Limbs falling asleep often, which feels like pins or needles all over
• Feeling like your muscles have weakened

These are some of the most common symptoms of a pinched nerve. You might also feel these symptoms getting more intense when you go to sleep. Normally with a bit of rest, these sensations should subside in a few days’ time, but if that does not happen, you ought to see a doctor for proper treatment.

Now you may be thinking, what typically causes pinched nerves? And how can one prevent it? Pinched nerves can be caused by a variety of things. For example, arthritis is a condition that leads to experiencing pinched nerves.

Other causes include injuries that put stress on tissues around a nerve, mental stress that leads to feeling the tension within the body, and obesity as well. On the other hand, physical exercise or outdoor activities can also push the body beyond its physical capacities, leading to pressure being put on muscles and tendons.

It is important to note that while pinched nerves don’t usually last very long, in which case the damage isn’t permanent, treatment is necessary if the pain does not go away soon. A pinched nerve, if it stays too long, may result in chronic pain or irreversible nerve damage if left untreated.

Besides these conditions that may directly cause pinched nerves, here are some others that may put one at risk of developing pinched nerves:

• Too much physical activity that requires the use of the hand or shoulder increases the risk of getting a pinched nerve in your limbs.
• On the other end, not enough physical activity and instead of spending way too much time in one position, i.e., lying in bed, for example, also increases chances of getting a pinched nerve.
• People with diabetes are also at greater risk of developing a pinched nerve than those who do not have this condition.
• Putting on a lot of weight in a short time span due to multiple reasons (pregnancy, for example) makes one relatively more vulnerable to pinched nerves.

So, how does one deal with pinched nerves? What are some of the less invasive and easy to access treatment options available for this condition? One increasingly sought-after treatment option is massage therapy, and here is how you can relieve a pinched nerve by opting for it.

How Massage Therapy Can Help Fix A Pinched Nerve

Before we discuss how massage therapy can help with a pinched nerve, it is important to flag that not all pinched nerves can be treated with just a massage. In fact, in some cases, massage therapy might not be the answer to your pain problems at all.

Therefore, it is incredibly important that you work with a doctor who can best guide you according to your medical history and any pre-existing conditions. You may ask your doctor about opting for massage therapy, and should they recommend it as well, then you should definitely opt for it.

However, if your doctor advises otherwise, do not go for massage therapy, for you might make your pain worse. The most important thing to remember here is to consult a medical professional who can best guide you on what treatment options you should be going for.

So, without further ado, here is how massage therapy can fix a pinched nerve.

Massage therapy has a variety of styles and techniques, not all of which will work for a pinched nerve. Ideally, you want a gentle but firm massage that relaxes the tensed-up muscles and deeper layers of tissue in your body to alleviate the pressure being put on your nerves.

Some experts recommend the Swedish massage for this purpose, as it is one of the most relaxing and enjoyable massage styles out there. In a Swedish massage, you are essentially being relaxed not just by the massage itself, but ideally also with the kind of atmosphere that is set, i.e., soft lighting, comforting smells and good temperature in the room, etc.

A massage to treat a pinched nerve should last around forty-five minutes to an hour for it to fully relax you. You can either opt for a localized massage, in which the area that hurts the most will be focused on, or go for a full body massage to reduce stress levels that may be contributing to the pinched nerve.

When treating a pinched nerve with massage therapy, you want to stay away from a lot of pressure being applied to your muscles, tendons, and tissues. For example, a deep tissue massage is not something you should be getting to help with a pinched nerve. This can make the pain worse, so stick to soft, gentle styles of massage.

Ultimately, massages are a wonderful way to fully relax if you are stressed because of work or personal problems. Remember to check in with your doctor on how your pinched nerve issue is progressing if you are opting for massage therapy for the best outcome.

If you are looking for a Swedish massage to help treat your pinched nerve problems, you should get in touch with Body of Beverly Hills Wellness by calling us at 310-652-2099 during our office hours.