Pinched nerve: back in focus

A nerve can be pinched or compressed at various points in the back, leading to different symptoms. The slipped disc is one of the most common causes of a pinched nerve in the back. It occurs when the soft core of an intervertebral disc moves out of position and presses on the nerve root. This can cause pain, numbness, tingling and muscle weakness in the areas supplied by this nerve.

However, the cause of pain, especially in the back, is often simply muscle tension . As already described, it may feel to you as if a nerve has been pinched, but it is actually hardened muscle structures that are pressing on the nerves in their vicinity. A "pinched nerve" in the back or a pinched nerve in the neck caused by muscle tension can therefore occur in virtually any back or neck muscle. The good news is that you can counteract this by relaxing your muscles, for example with stretching exercises, but also with massages or acupressure. We will come to the topic of "releasing a pinched nerve in the back" or "releasing a pinched nerve in the neck" in more detail in a moment.

Pinched nerve - what to do?

You have pinched a nerve and are now unsure: Does a pinched nerve go away on its own? The ability of a pinched nerve to heal on its own depends on several factors, including the cause of the compression, the severity of the symptoms and the individual body's response. In some cases, mild forms of nerve compression are only short-term and improve on their own. If the cause of nerve compression is temporary, such as muscle strain, excessive stress or poor posture, symptoms may subside on their own once the triggering factors are addressed. Certain self-help measures such as rest, correct posture, an ergonomically designed workstation, stretching exercises, heat or cold applications all contribute to pain relief. Mild symptoms of a pinched nerve can improve within a few days or weeks.

However, if the symptoms persist, increase in intensity or affect your quality of life, you should seekmedical advice . If you have a pinched nerve, it is best to consult a neurologist or orthopaedist who specializes in nerve and muscle disorders. The doctor will carry out a physical examination to clearly identify the source of the pain.

Relaxation helps ... and is easy to have

If a nerve is pinched , in some cases this requires targeted treatment to alleviate the symptoms and eliminate the nerve compression. This can include physical therapy, medication, injections or, in severe cases, even surgery. However, as already mentioned, the pinched nerve is often not actually pinched, but is affected by muscle tension. You can remedy this yourself by loosening and releasing these tensions. For example, a session on the ShaktiMat acupressure mat can help you loosen up your muscles. The many spikes stimulate blood circulation and thus promote relaxation of the entire back and neck muscles. Our extra tip: Not sure whether your pinched nerve requires heat or cold to reduce pain? If it's muscle tension, you should use heat to relax and relieve the pain.

Of course, the question then arises: How long does it take for a pinched nerve to recover? There is no general answer to this question, as you can probably imagine. If the nerve is pinched due to muscle tension, you can take the measures already mentioned and take action yourself. If you work diligently on loosening the affected muscles, for example by lying down regularly on the ShaktiMat acupressure mat or by doing suitable stretching exercises, you will usually see a rapid improvement. Our pro tip: If you have a pinched nerve, it is best to establish a fixed relaxation routine. You do this, of course, primarily to relieve your pain. However, you should also stick to this routine when the "pinched nerve" is no longer bothering you. This ensures that your body is permanently relaxed. The result: cramped muscles, and therefore pinched nerves, will soon no longer be an issue for you.