5 Pinched Nerve Healing Signs

If you’re familiar with the condition known as “pinched nerve”, you likely know it’s unpleasant. Symptoms of a pinched nerve include pain that radiates outward, numbness, tingling, or a “falling asleep” sensation in the affected area.

A pinched nerve can occur anywhere in the body and is a result of nerves being compressed by the pressure of surrounding body tissues, like muscle, bones, cartilage, or tendons. 

Pinched nerves can result from conditions such as injury, obesity, repetitive body movements, sports activities, or arthritis.

Sometimes pinched nerves can heal on their own but oftentimes they need treatment.

If continued pressure is applied to the affected nerve for a long time, your nerve cells may become permanently damaged. 

When left untreated, a pinched nerve can lead to peripheral neuropathy or carpal tunnel syndrome.

Treatment for a pinched nerve depends on your severity of symptoms but oftentimes your doctor will prescribe rest and ask you to stop all physical activity that worsens the pressure on your pinched nerve. 

Other treatments for a pinched nerve include physical therapy, medication, and in severe cases, surgery. Most likely your pinched nerve will only require a little rest and relaxation.

But how do you know whether your pinched nerve is healing or if it’s time to go back to the doctor? Read below for 5 signs your pinched nerve is healing. 

1. Decrease In Pain

Having a pinched nerve can be incredibly painful. The pain often feels like a sharp, consistent stabbing-like pressure that worsens when you sleep or do physical activity.

Pinched nerve pain typically radiates outward. If you have a pinched nerve in your neck, for example, you may feel pain in your hands, elbows, or shoulders.

A pinched nerve in your leg may cause painful symptoms in your leg, knee, or foot. 

If your pinched nerve is healing, this pain will lessen to a dull throbbing. You’ll also notice that the pain moves away from your outer extremities as it heals.

If you feel pain in your hands, for example, that pain will move away from your hands and up the rest of your arm until your pinched nerve is fully healed. 

2. Return of Sensation To the Affected Area

You may experience loss of sensation in the area where your pinched nerve is located.

This area may become numb or sensitive to touch. The feeling of numbness or loss of sensation is caused by nerve cell damage.

When the nerve cells aren’t functioning properly, they can’t send signals between your brain and your body.

One such signal is the ability to feel sensation. When your nerve cells start to heal, you will notice the sensation start to return to the affected area. 

3. Improved Strength

A symptom of a pinched nerve is muscle weakness in the affected areas. If you have a pinched nerve in your lower back, you may feel weakness in your legs.

Damage to your nerve cells radiates outwards causing other extremities to be affected.

A pinched nerve in your back may make walking and standing uncomfortable or difficult.

When you begin healing from a pinched nerve, you’ll notice improvements in your strength. Walking or standing (or whatever movements were affected) will become easier. 

4. Fewer Pins and Needles Feelings

A pinched nerve often causes a pins and needles sensation in the affected area.

You may be familiar with the pins and needle sensation when your leg falls asleep after you sit in a certain position for too long.

This sensation is caused by a minor pinched nerve.

However, it is quickly resolved once your switch leg positions and allow blood to flow back to your leg.

More serious examples of pinched nerves can cause chronic pins and needles sensations. When you’re pinched nerve is healing, you will notice this sensation lessen over time. 

5. Regain Your Range of Motion

Having a pinched nerve may make it difficult for you to complete certain movements comfortably.

For example, a pinched nerve in your shoulder may make raising your arms or lifting heavy things near impossible.

You may not be able to do things that were once part of your daily routine (such as carrying groceries or putting the dishes away in the higher cabinets).

If your pinched nerve is healing, you will start to regain your full range of motion in the affected area.

You will notice that you can return to doing simple movements that were once part of your daily routine. 

How Long Does It Take for a Pinched Nerve To Heal?

Most cases of pinched nerves will heal on their own within 4-6 weeks.

Healing time depends on the severity of your injury and how well you treat it.

Most people can manage their pain with over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin or ibuprofen.

If you have a more serious case of a pinched nerve or your symptoms persist for longer than a few weeks, you should make an appointment with your doctor. 

How Can You Heal From a Pinched Nerve Faster?

Rest and abstaining from physical activity is the recommended home therapy for a pinched nerve.

However, your diet may also play a role in helping you heal faster. Damaged nerve cells require the right nutrients to repair and heal themselves.

These vitamins can be obtained through a healthy balanced diet or supplements such as NeuraZenx.*

NeuraZenx is an all-in-one multi-nutrient supplement formulated specifically for nerve health.*

It contains essential vitamins, minerals, and herbs shown to be helpful in treating symptoms of neuropathy and other nerve pain disorders.*

Taking NeuraZenx as a daily supplement may help your pinched nerve heal faster by providing necessary nutrients to your nerve cells.*

It also contains ingredients that are helpful for reducing pain and inflammation associated with a pinched nerve injury.*

Pinched Nerve Healing Signs: The Takeaway

A pinched nerve is a common condition that can affect anyone.

Fortunately, it’s a condition that rarely is cause for too much concern. Home treatment is recommended and consists of rest and reduced physical activity.

Adhering to your doctor’s orders and supplementing with a multi-nutrient supplement like NeuraZenx may help you recover faster.*

You can order our pharmacist and doctor-formulated NeuraZenx from the ZenNutrients website: Here.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.