| How to Get Your Guinea Pig to Trust You Posted: 09 Jan 2017 04:00 PM PST Guinea pigs make great pets. They can be lots of fun and are fairly low-maintenance. But as with any animal, you need to put in some effort in order to cultivate your relationship. Whether this guinea pig is a new member of your household, or one you just haven't bonded with yet, it is important for you to establish a good relationship with your pet. Trust is one one of the most important elements in the relationship between pet and owner. There are many steps you can take to get your guinea pig to trust you. EditBonding With Your Guinea Pig - Hand feed him. One of the best ways to earn your guinea pig's trust is by using food as an incentive. In addition to your regular feedings, try giving him special treats. Feed him these treats in small amount by hand. Doing this at regular intervals will cause your guinea pig to associate you with food and caring.[1]
- Fruit is an ideal snack to give your guinea pig. Try feeding him a slice of banana or apple once a day. Guinea pigs have different food preferences, just like people. Try different types of fruit until you find the one that seems to make your pet the happiest.
- Hold him properly. You'll want to give your guinea pig plenty of attention, which means you should be very comfortable holding him. A supportive but gentle hold is best. Pick him up with one hand under his belly, and one resting near his neck. Hold him close to your body, especially when moving around.[2]
- The key to a successful hold is to make sure your guinea pig feels secure. He will have a harder time trusting you if he is afraid of falling. Hold him securely, but loosely enough that he is still comfortable.
- Spend quality time with your guinea pig. It's not enough simply to be in the same room with your guinea pig while they are in their cage. To effectively bond with your guinea pig, make sure to spend time with her by removing her from her confined area. Take some time each day to pay attention to her while she has the freedom to move around.[3]
- Guinea pigs love to play hide and seek. When you are playing with your pig out of the cage, place several empty paper sacks around the room. Place treats in some of them, and watch your pet have fun exploring![4]
- Make sure to keep a close eye on your pet when she's on the move. She good easily search out several good hiding places, and you don't want to misplace her.
- When approaching your guinea pig for play time, offer her a small treat. She will begin to associate positive incentives with spending time with you.
- Have conversations. Talking to your guinea pig is a great way to bond with them. Guinea pigs are social creatures, and they love attention. Place your pet's cage in a room where you spend a lot of time--maybe your living room or home office. Talk to your guinea pig throughout the day. It may seem strange at first, but you will probably come to enjoy having somebody to talk to who will never disagree with your opinions.[5]
- Use your guinea pig's name frequently. By using her name, your pet will learn when you are specifically talking to her. She'll learn to look forward to the attention.
- Understand guinea pig behavior. To earn your guinea pig's trust, you should spend some time learning to understand the characteristics of these pets. Typically, they are smart, sensitive, and have a lot of energy. Pay attention to your pet's habits, so that you can learn his likes and dislikes. For example, learning the specific spots he likes to have scratched will go a long way towards earning his trust.[6]
- Guinea pigs are highly social and they love company. Consider getting a companion for your pet. It's not much harder to care for two guinea pigs instead of one.
- Don't worry if your guinea pig does not immediately respond to your affections. As with any animal, it can take time to earn a guinea pig's trust.
EditCaring for Your Guinea Pig - Be prepared to bring your pet home. Before you bring your guinea pig to your house for the first time, make sure that you have everything you need. Take care to have a comfortable home created for him. You should also have plenty of food on hand for your new companion.[7]
- A good water bottle is one of the most important items you will need for your new pet. Ask the pet store to recommend a brand. A good water bottle will provide your guinea pig with the supply of fresh and clean water they need.[8]
- Create a pleasant and safe space. Most cages that are marketed for guinea pigs are actually too small. You should look for a larger cage that is at least 7.5 square feet. This might mean that you purchase a cage that is intended for another animal. That's ok, don't worry about the name of the product. [9]
- If you can't find an appropriate cage, you can make your own. A good suggestion could be a C&C cage, which is spacious and affordable. Plus, you can customize the cage!
- Make it interesting. Guinea pigs like to move around, so try to find a cage that includes ramps and different levels.
- Include bedding. Guinea pigs like to nest and burrow, so make sure that they have the material to do so. Pine and cedar shavings, though widely sold, are not actually good for small animals, because of chemicals. Instead, ask the pet store for a paper-based bedding product.
- Be aware the best food for a guinea pig is grass or good quality hay. Feed this as the number one constituent of the diet. In addition, you can offer a small amount (no more than they can eat in 20 minutes) of a good quality extruded food. The latter is a pellet that is milled so that each nugget looks identical which stops the guinea pig from selectively eating the tasty bits and leaving the healthier parts. Feeding a diet of entirely pellets leads either to obesity or to the guinea pig's teeth overgrowing.
- Once a day, you can give your guinea pig a small amount of fruit and veggies. Oranges and strawberries are popular choices. You can also try providing a small amount of kale or dandelion greens. Once a week, you can offer a little carrot or a small bit of sweet potato.[10]
- Keep her clean. Generally, your guinea pig will be able to bather herself. But every three months (or if she gets particularly dirty), you can give her a bathe. Place her in the bathroom sink, on top of a washcloth. Gently scoop room temperature water over her and rub it in.[11]
- Use a small amount of shampoo and work it into a lather in your guinea pig's fur. Then gently but thoroughly rinse.
- Just bathe your guinea pig's body, not her head. You don't want to get water in her eyes.[12]
- Gently pat your pet dry with a clean, soft towel.
- Maintain his health. Your guinea pig should see his vet once every year. Your vet can make sure that he is at a healthy weight and is not showing any signs of illness. Make sure to use a vet who thoroughly and patiently answers all of your questions.[13]
- Take your guinea pig to the vet anytime they show signs of illness or significant changes in behavior.
- Know the costs. Before you bring home a guinea pig (or two) make sure that you have factored the financial costs into your budget. You'll need to purchase food, a cage, bedding, and a water bottle. Don't forget to add in occasional trips to the vet. Annual guinea pig care costs between $500-$800.[14]
EditAppreciating Your Pet - Value his company. Animals can read moods. So if you want your guinea pig to trust you and value you, you should reciprocate. Make sure to think about the value that having a pet adds to your life. Isn't it nice to have company when no one else is around? The more you appreciate your guinea pig, the more it will show.
- Let your kids help with the guinea pig. Pets are a great way to help your kids learn responsibility. Guinea pigs are an ideal first pet for your children to be around. Have your kids help you feed the guinea pig, and teach them to clean the cage. You, your children, and the guinea pig will all benefit from this arrangement.
- Enjoy the health benefits. People who have pets are known to be healthier than non-pet owners, in some respects. Guinea pigs provide the same perks as having a cat or dog. Owning a guinea pig can help prevent symptoms of depression and can also lower your blood pressure.[15]
- It is a good idea for everyone in the house to learn how to care for the guinea pig.
- Make sure to have a plan in place for when you have to go out of town.
- Try to offer them some food.
- If nobody is going to be home while you're gone, leave a radio on so they can get used to voices.
- Always make sure their feet are touching something.
- Make sure you don't make sudden movements or loud noises around the guinea pig, if this happens often the pig can become stressed.
- When bringing home a guinea pig leave them alone for the first day to get used to her home. Next day try to hand feed to create trust.
- Use caution when handling any animal.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Reduce Your Overall Body Fat Posted: 09 Jan 2017 08:00 AM PST Reducing your overall body fat may help improve your health. While some body fat is essential to the healthy functioning of your body, large amounts of excess body fat can lead to serious health problems. Too much fat in the body is connected to many health conditions such as sleep apnea, high blood pressure or heart disease and hardening of the arteries.[1] Making changes to your diet, lifestyle and exercise routine can help you safely lower your overall body fat and reduce your risk for certain health conditions. EditReducing Body Fat with Dietary Changes - Opt for meals that are low-calorie. Low-calorie diets will help you lose weight and reduce body fat.[2] Monitor how many calories you eat daily and reduce this number by around 500 calories each day. This will yield a 1 – 2 pound weight loss per week.[3]
- Count how many calories you're currently consuming. You can use a food journal, app or online calculator to help you do this accurately. Cut out about 500 calories from this number. Your end result should be what you aim for daily for slow and safe body fat loss.
- Do not try to follow a very low calorie diet or consume less than 1,200 calories daily. When you're calories are too low, you may stop losing weight or lose lean muscle mass, not body fat.[4]
- You may want to check with your physician or dietitian about the amount of calories you should be consuming in order to reduce body fat.
- Focus on lean protein. Protein is essential for your body's metabolism. Focusing on lean protein at all meals and snacks can help support weight loss and body fat reduction.[5]
- Lean protein should be included at all meals. This will help ensure you meet your daily recommended amount. Women should aim for 46 g daily and men should aim for 56 g.[6]
- Lean protein sources include: poultry, lean beef, pork, legumes, tofu, low-fat dairy and seafood.
- Limit or avoid sources of protein that contain higher amounts of saturated fat. Some studies have shown that a diet rich in saturated fats may increase body fat — especially in your abdomen.[7] Limit foods like: full-fat dairy, fatty cuts of meat, and butter.
- Make fruits and vegetables a priority in meals. In addition to lean protein, make a large part of your meals and snacks vegetables. You will also want to eat plenty of fruit. These foods are very nutritious and contain a lot of healthy nutrients your body needs.
- It's generally recommended to consume about five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Aim for one to two servings of fruit and the rest should be vegetables.[8]
- Also, when you're choosing foods from these groups, try to choose items that are brightly colored or darkly colored. These foods are typically more nutrient-dense meaning they contain higher amounts of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.[9] For example, choose kale over iceberg lettuce.
- Try using vegetables creatively. Try them raw with a dip or in a salad, sauté them on the stove, cook them in a soup, roast them in the oven, grill them outside, or hide them in a smoothie or in spaghetti sauce and serve over spaghetti squash.
- Reduce the amount of grains you eat. One of the best ways to reduce your body fat is to reduce the amount of grains you eat each day.[10] These carbohydrate-rich foods can slow the reduction of body fat.
- Foods that are high in carbohydrates include: bread, rice, pastries, sweets, pasta, crackers, chips, English muffins, and bagels. These highly processed grains contain little nutrition and can quickly raise blood sugar which often results in fat storage. [11]
- There are other foods that contain carbohydrates like fruits and legumes; however, these foods also contain a high amount of other essential nutrients and shouldn't necessarily be limited.
- Make water your number one drink of choice. On a normal day, most people should drink about eight 8-oz glasses of water. Choose no-calorie, decaf beverages for the most hydrating fluids.[12]
- Avoid sweetened, calorie filled beverages like sodas, juice or energy drinks as they will add calories to your diet and may increase body fat.
- This is a general recommendation. The amounts of fluids needed will differ for everyone depending on their size and amount of perspiration. For example, those participating in aerobic exercise will need to drink more to help them re-hydrate. Let thirst be your first guide.
- Eat fermented foods. Fermented foods, such as organic kefir, organic yogurt, and sauerkraut contain live cultures of good bacteria. Having large amounts of good bacteria in our intestines can help maintain a healthy weight.[13] You can also take probiotics, which may even help manage stress.[14]
- Avoid added sugars and artificial sweeteners. They can increase cravings and lead to overeating. There are over 60 names for added sugars, so it can sometimes be a challenge to identify them in an ingredient list. Some examples of added sugars are:[15]
- Agave nectar
- Barley malt
- Cane juice
- Corn syrup
- Dextrose
- Evaporated cane juice
- High-fructose corn syrup
- Malton
- Maple syrup
- Molasses
- Honey
- Sucrose
- Rice syrup
EditReducing Body Fat with Exercise - Increase your aerobic activity level. Put together an aerobic exercise routine that will work in conjunction with your diet to cut body fat. Together, aerobic exercise and diet have been shown to be one of the best combinations to reduce body fat.
- In general, it's recommended to include at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity each week — that's just 20 minutes every day.[16] To speed the reduction of body fat, it's suggested to work out for longer — up to 60 minutes daily.[17]
- Include a wide variety of aerobic exercises like: walking/jogging, running, biking, dancing, swimming, martial arts or boxing and using the elliptical. Choose activities you enjoy, as this will make you more likely to stick with it.
- If you're just starting out with exercise, start by building upon your current activity regimen.
- Whether you opt for low impact exercises such as swimming or walking, or a more intense routine like kickboxing or weight training, aim to work out for at least 30 minutes.
- Add in high-intensity interval exercises. Some studies have shown that more vigorous intensity exercises that are done in intervals decrease body fat more efficiently than moderate-intensity exercise.[18]
- Interval training combines both very high- and moderate-intensity exercise. These workouts are usually done for shorter periods of time. An example of interval training is: 1 minute of sprinting followed by 3 minutes of jogging. This cycle would be repeated several times, for about 20 minutes total (not including your warm up and cool down).
- Interval training is great for body fat reduction as it has been shown to burn more calories from fat and keeps your metabolism elevated up to 24 hours after you've completed the workout.[19]
- Include regular resistance training. Strength training does not burn high levels of fat when you're performing the exercises; however, over time, strength training can help you build lean muscle mass which can help you increase your metabolism and your body's ability to burn calories.[20]
- It's recommended to include strength training two to three days a week for at least 30 minutes.[21] It's important to work all large muscle groups throughout the week.
- Always include at least two days of rest and recovery between strength training routines. Your body and muscles need time for adequate recovery, otherwise performance may suffer over time.[22]
- Increase your lifestyle activity. In addition to cardio and strength training, you can increase your daily lifestyle activity. Studies have shown that, in general, people who are more active tend to be healthier.[23]
- Think about how much you move or how many steps you take in a day. How can you increase that?
- A few ways to increase movement in your day include: do leg lifts while you sit at your desk or stand or do knee raises during commercial breaks.
- Add more steps to your day by: taking a walk break during lunch, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, park farther away from your destination, and walk to places that are close to you (like the grocery store or pharmacy).
EditMaking Other Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Body Fat - Manage stress levels. Studies have shown that long-term, low-grade, chronic stress increases cortisol levels in the body. When this occurs, not only can it be difficult to lose weight, you may even gain more body fat.[24]
- Exercising regularly can help manage stress levels. If you're feeling overwhelmed or overly stressed, take a 10 minute walk to help yourself calm down and unwind. Try yoga, which can be meditative.
- Engage in other activities that will also help you relax. You can listen to music, read a good book or magazine, journaling, get together with friends, or watch a movie. Try meditation, deep breathing, positive visualization, and progressive muscle relaxation.
- If you're having trouble managing stress levels, consider talking to a therapist or behavior specialist. These health professionals will be able to coach and guide you to better stress management.
- Avoid relying on tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, or other drugs.
- Go to bed earlier. Many people do not get adequate rest each night. Sleep is important for a variety of bodily functions including weight management. Go bed to earlier to get more sleep to help reduce your body fat levels.[25]
- It's recommended to get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. You may need to go to bed earlier and wake up a little later (if possible) to help you increase the amount you sleep each night.
- Adequate rest also helps improve athletic performance in addition to helping you manage your hunger signals throughout the day.
- Ensure that you are eating healthy portions. Portion control is necessary if you want to reduce body fat. Portion controlling will help you reduce your overall calorie intake and body fat.
- In general, average healthy adults adults should consume no more than 3 – 4 oz of protein, 1/2 cup of grains, 1/2 cup of fruit and 1 cup of vegetables per serving.[26]
- Use measuring cups or a food scale to help keep you on track with your portions.
- You can also use smaller plates, bowls and cups to physically limit how much food you can serve yourself at one sitting.
- Consuming more than the recommended portions of foods may increase your risk for gaining weight and increasing total body fat.
- Eat mindfully. Turn off your TV, put away your phone or book, and pay attention when you are eating. Eat slowly, chew well, and savor your food. Eating while distracted or when you are feeling emotional can cause you to overeat.[27] Try to be present when you eat your food, noticing the tastes, smells, and textures.
EditMeasuring Your Progress - Start a journal or log. Whenever you're trying to lose weight or reduce your body fat, it's a good idea to start a journal. You can include a variety of information, but this log will help you see and measure your success.
- Start a journal prior to making any changes. You might make notes about what you plan to change, your timeline and any other ideas or thoughts you have.
- Think about keeping track of your foods and beverages. Logging what you eat has been shown to help people stay on track. It will also allow you to see any slip ups or help you determine if what you're eating is affecting your success.[28]
- Also keep track of any measurements you take like your weight.
- Get on the scale weekly. When you're trying to lose weight and reduce your overall body fat, it's important to monitor your progress. One way to check in is by weighing yourself weekly.
- Studies have shown that weekly weigh-ins help people stay on track and on target. You're more likely to be successful long-term if you continue to self monitor and check-in with your weight.[29]
- Ideally, weigh yourself about one to two times a week. It might be harder to see accurate progress if you're weighing yourself daily due to normal fluctuations in body weight.
- For the most accurate measure of your progress, weigh yourself on the same day of the week, at the same time and in the same clothes. First thing in the morning, before eating or drinking, before dressing, but after using the restroom is best.
- Take your measurements. As you continue to lose weight and reduce your overall body fat, you'll notice that it's not only the scale that's changing. If you're losing body fat, you should also notice the size and shape of your body also changes.
- Prior to starting your diet and exercise program, take a variety of measurements. These will help you see where you're losing the most fat.
- Typical places to measure and track are: waist, hips, bust, thighs and upper arms. Keep these measurements in a journal. Every month, re-measure yourself to help you track your progress.
- If your weight is staying the same, but your measurements are smaller and you have been working out, you are likely gaining muscle and losing fat, which is a healthy improvement.
- Get a body fat percentage test. If you're able, get your body fat percentage tested and evaluated. This is the percentage of your body that is made up from fat. As you continue to diet and exercise, this percentage should decrease over time.[30]
- Many gyms offer body fat percentage as a free service to their members. Ask a staff member or trainer at your local gym for more information.
- You may also ask your doctor or physician if they have the equipment in office to evaluate your body fat percentage.
- There are devices you can purchase for home use, but these typically take a lot of experience and practice using. Your margin of error will most likely be much larger compared to a health or fitness professional doing the tests for you.
- Take photos of yourself at the beginning and every two or three months to help you see progress.
- Donate clothes to charity as they become too big for you. This may help you maintain your smaller size.
- Food intolerances such as gluten, dairy, soy, corn, etc can make weight loss difficult.
- Be kind to yourself. Slip-ups will happen, and that's totally okay. Don't give up or get angry at yourself if you break your diet or miss a workout. Just keep doing your best.
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Treat a Pinched Nerve Posted: 09 Jan 2017 12:00 AM PST This wikiHow will show you how to treat a pinched nerve. EditKey Points - Avoid flexing or moving the pinched nerve as much as possible. More ↓
- Get extra sleep to help you recover.↓
- Use a brace or splint to keep the nerve immobile when necessary. ↓
- Alternate ice and heat to reduce swelling. ↓
- Get a gentle massage to relieve tension, but avoid intense pressure. ↓
- Take an over-the-counter NSAID such as ibuprofen. ↓
EditGetting Immediate Relief For a Pinched Nerve at Home - Recognize a pinched nerve. A pinched nerve occurs when a nerve is damaged in some way and unable to fully send its signals. It is caused when a nerve gets compressed, which can be due to a herniated disc, arthritis, or bone spurs. You can also get a pinched nerve from other situations and activities such as injury, poor posture, repetitive motions, sports, hobbies, and obesity. Pinched nerves can occur all over the body, although they are most common in the spine, neck, wrists, and elbows.
- These conditions cause inflammation, which constricts your nerves and causes them to become pinched.
- Poor nutrition and general health can worsen a pinched nerve.
- This condition can be reversible or irreversible, depending on the severity of the case.[1][2]
- Notice the symptoms. A pinched nerve is essentially a physical obstruction of body's wiring system. The symptoms of a pinched nerve usually include numbness, minor swelling, sharp pain, tingling, muscle spasms, and muscle weakness. A pinched nerve is typically associated with shooting pains in the affected area.
- These symptoms happen because the nerves are not effectively sending signals through the body due to the compression or obstruction to your nerve.[3]
- Avoid overuse. Once you diagnose your pinched nerve, you need to start taking care of yourself. You should stay off of the affected body part or use it less. Repetitive use of muscles, joints, and tendons that have caused the compressed nerves will make it worse. This is because the surrounding areas continue to swell and constrict the nerve. The easiest way to get a bit of immediate pain relief from any compressed nerve is to rest the pinched nerve and the surrounding area until the swelling and compression completely subsides.
- You should avoid flexing and moving the area of the pinched nerve so you don't pinch the nerve even further. There are certain movements that cause your symptoms to immediately get worse, and these movements should be avoided if at all possible.
- If a certain movement or position causes increased symptoms and pain, isolate the injured area and avoid doing that movement.
- In the case of carpal tunnel, a common injury that is caused by a pinched nerve, keeping the wrist straight during sleep and avoiding any bending of the joint will provide the most relief from any compression.[4]
- Get some sleep. Sleeping extra hours is the natural way for your body to repair damage. If necessary, take the time to sleep extra hours each night until you feel better or the pain subsides. A couple hours of extra rest for your body and the injured area should help decrease the symptoms significantly.
- This works directly with limiting overuse. If you sleep more, you are moving less. Not only will you not overuse the affected area, your body will have more time to heal itself as you sleep.
- Use a brace or splint. There may be times where you cannot rest the affected nerve as much as you want because of work, school, or other obligations. If this is the case, you can wear a brace or splint to immobilize the injured area. This will allow you to do some basic work like usual.
- For example, if the pinched nerve is in your neck, use a neck brace to help hold the muscles still throughout your day.
- If your pinched nerve is the result of carpal tunnel syndrome, use a wrist or elbow brace, also known as a volar carpal splint, to avoid an unnecessary movement.[5]
- Braces can be found at most retail drug stores. Follow the instructions provided with the brace. If you have any questions or concerns, consult your doctor for additional help.
- Apply ice and heat. A pinched nerve is often accompanied by swelling, and swelling can compress the nerve even further. To help reduce swelling and increase circulation, rotate between periods of using ice and heat on the area of the pinched nerve, which is a method called hydrotherapy. Apply ice for 15 minutes 3-4 times a day to help reduce inflammation. After that, apply a heat pad to the affected area for 1 hour for 4-5 nights a week until your symptoms get better.
- Place an ice pack, either a store bought one or a homemade one, over the affected area with light pressure. The pressure will help to cool the affected area. Keep a soft cloth between the ice pack and your skin to prevent any burns from the cold. Do not use for more than 15 minutes because it slows blood flow, which stalls healing.
- Use a hot water bottle or a heat pad after icing to encourage blood flow, which can help to speed up the healing process. Do not heat for over an hour because it can increase inflammation.
- You can also take a hot bath or soak the pinched nerve in hot water to relax the muscles in the area and increase blood flow.[6]
- Get a massage. Applying pressure to the pinched nerve can help to relieve tension and reduce pain. Get a full body massage to help induce relaxation in all your muscles, relaxing the affected area as well. You can also get a gentle, targeted massage of the area near the pinched nerve. This will offer more specific relief and help the nerve to heal.
- You can also massage the affected area yourself to get some relief. Gently knead the area with your fingers to increase blood flow and loosen any muscles that may be contributing to the compression of your nerve.
- Avoid intense deep-tissue massage or heavy pressure because this could apply unnecessary pressure and worsen the pinched nerve.[7]
- Take pain relieving medication. Many over-the-counter pain relievers are are great for treating a pinched nerve. Try taking non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin to reduce any swelling and pain.
- Follow the instructions provided with your medication and review all warnings. Consult a doctor if you are unsure about dosing or side effects, especially if you have other medical problems or take other medications.
- See a doctor. If the symptoms and pain subside but continue to come back over the course of several weeks or months, consult your doctor for help. Even if the suggested methods to alleviate symptoms were originally helpful, if they no longer provide relief, you need to get the area checked.
- You should also see a doctor if you feel constant numbness or pain in the area despite minimal use or if the muscles in the affected area feel weaker over time.
- Seek immediate treatment if the symptoms are severe or the area feels cold or appears very pale or blue.
EditTreating a Pinched Nerve at Home Over the Long-Term - Perform low-impact exercise. You can rest your pinched nerve and still keep your blood pumping. Good blood and oxygen circulation and toned muscles can actually help heal the pinched nerve. Daily activity should be done conservatively and only when it is comfortable for you. Try going swimming or for walks. These will help to move your muscles naturally while placing a minimal amount of stress on the joints and tendons where the pinched nerve is.
- Inactivity can lead to a loss of muscle strength and cause the healing process of the pinched nerve to take much more time.[8][9]
- Keep good posture when exercising or resting. This will help to ease tension at the location of the pinched nerve.
- Maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent a pinched nerve.
- Increase calcium intake. One of the underlying factors of a pinched nerve is a calcium deficiency. You should start eating more calcium rich foods such as dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt and leafy greens like spinach and kale. This can help the nerve and also improve your overall health.
- You can also take calcium as a supplement. You can buy these from many health food stores, general stores, or pharmacies to take on a daily basis. Follow the directions or consult your doctor if you are unsure of how much calcium to take. Never take more than the recommended dose.
- Check labels of packaged foods to see if they are calcium fortified. Many brands offer a calcium enriched product in addition to their usual products.
- Eat more foods with potassium. Potassium is a key ion involved in cell metabolism. Because it causes weaker connections between nerves, a lack of potassium can sometimes contribute to symptoms of a pinched nerve. Increasing potassium in the diet may help to restore proper balance to your nerve function and alleviate your symptoms.
- Foods rich in potassium include apricots, bananas, avocados, and nuts. Drinking fluids like skim milk and orange juice can help to increase potassium absorption.
- Potassium supplements, similar to calcium supplements, can be taken on a regular basis in addition to a healthy diet. Talk to your doctor before taking potassium supplements, especially if you have other medical problems (especially problems with your kidneys) or take other medications. Your doctor may want to check your blood for potassium levels before recommending supplements.
- Potassium deficiency is diagnosed by a doctor. To help rectify a potassium deficiency, your doctor may recommend a diet with increased potassium intake after assessing the underlying cause. Consult your doctor if you suspect this could be an issue.[10][11]
EditTreating a Pinched Nerve with a Doctor - See a physical therapist. If you are having problems and no method has worked, you might consider seeing a physical therapist. She can give you specialized stretches and exercises that aid in healing a pinched nerve. Certain exercises relieve the pressure on the pinched nerve, helping to reduce pain. Many of the stretches used in this healing process must be done with a trained professional or partner, so don't do them on your own.
- As time goes on, your physical therapist may give you additional exercises that can be done on your own. Don't do any of the exercises alone unless she tells you to do so.
- Consider epidural steroid injection. This treatment, used mainly in treating a pinched sciatic nerve, can alleviate pain and help to heal the nerve. It involves a steroid shot to the spine and can only be injected by a doctor. After being evaluated by your doctor for the degree and type of pinched nerve you have, she may discuss this option with you.[12]
- Epidural steroid injections can be a quick and effective means of getting relief from your pain. When this procedure is performed by a trained medical professional, any side effects and dangers are considered remote. However, rare side effects may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, backache, and bleeding from the site of injection.[13]
- Talk to your doctor about surgery. For significant pain or symptoms that are not improved with other treatments, surgery on the pinched nerve may be the best treatment. The surgery may be to relieve pressure or to remove the part of the area that is pinching the nerve. Surgery usually provides relief after recovery. Recurrence of the pinched nerve may occur but is typically rare.
- A pinched nerve in the wrist may involve cutting muscle tissue to alleviate pressure in the area.
- Pinched nerves caused by a herniated disc may be corrected by removing part or all of the disc, followed by spinal stabilization.[14][15][16]
- Strive for continued relief. Even after symptoms have subsided, it is important to continue to properly exercise, maintain proper body mechanics and good posture, and avoid previously discussed risk factors. Recovery from pinched nerves will depend on a number of factors including the degree of nerve impingement, maintenance of a treatment regimen, and any underlying disease processes.
- Full recovery is common in pinched nerves in the back. Acute low back pain caused by pinched nerves usually subsides within about 6 weeks of targeted care in 90% of individuals.[17]
- Avoid future pinched nerves. Most pinched nerves will recover completely and, in most individuals, symptoms will be get better with proper treatment. To prevent re-injury, avoid any repetitive motions that have previously caused pinched nerves. The most important thing you can do is to listen to your body. If a movement begins to cause discomfort or symptoms of a pinched nerve appear, stop what you are doing at the time and allow the affected area to recover.
- Talk with your doctor about a plan and regimen to properly care for and balance the use, rest, and isolation of your previously affected nerve.
- The use of a brace as a preventive measure before a nerve is pinched can help.
- If your symptoms occur suddenly or after an injury, to seek medical attention right away.
- The amount of time it takes for a pinched nerve to completely heal depends on the amount of damage done to the nerve. Because the nerve heals from the top down, it could take from weeks to months to completely heal.
- If you suffer from back pain, see an osteopath or chiropractor who does spinal manipulation. This method releases the pressure on the nerve so it can heal.
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