What Should You Do About a Pinched Nerve in the Lower Back?

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A pinched nerve in your lower back is a type of lower back pain that occurs when there is pressure on a nerve in your lower back. While there may be no literal pinching involved, the pain can be described as feeling like a pinch.

When you’re dealing with a pinched nerve in the lower back, there are a few steps you can follow to help you recover. Take a look below at what you should do if you have pinching pain in your lower back.

Rest

Many people develop lower back pain due to strenuous physical activity. Don’t push through the pain to keep up with an activity. This won’t make you any tougher or invulnerable to the pain. Instead, you need to rest so your back can use its resources for recovery rather than activity.

Move

Yes, we just said to rest, but we need to be clear that resting isn’t becoming a couch potato for days or weeks. Get your rest, but you also need to get up and move. Light exercises like stretching or going for a walk help keep the muscles engaged and get your blood flowing, which both reduces pain in your back.

Ice

Two or three times a day, you can apply ice to your lower back to help with any swelling and pain. Apply a wrapped bag of ice to your lower back for about 15 minutes. Wait an hour before making another application. Any more frequently than this and you risk constricting the blood vessels in your back, which is painful and causes other issues.

Visit a doctor

After a few days, if none of these are helping, you should visit a doctor for an examination. Your doctor can review your symptoms and perform tests to determine the appropriate course of action for treating a pinched nerve in your lower back.

Of course, even if it hasn’t been a few days, visiting a doctor is always a safe option to keep on the table. Never hesitate to schedule an appointment if you’re concerned about your health.

Visit the iRISE Spine and Joint Institute for a pinched nerve in the lower back for treatment

Do you have pain in your lower back related to a pinched nerve? Our team at the Florida Spine and Joint Institute offers a variety of treatments that can help. Contact our team today for more information about the pinched nerve in the lower back treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.

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