5 Ways to Treat Numbness & Tingling in the Spine

5 treatMents For spine
tinGlinG & nuMBness
By: The Spine Institute

introduction
Your spine houses thousands of nerves that play a
role in the sensations you feel as you move, sit,
and sleep. If one of these nerves is irritated, it’s
not unusual for discomfort to be felt elsewhere,
such as in the arms, shoulders, or legs. This is
known as radiating pain, or radiculopathy.
Common symptoms associated with this type of
nerve pain include numbness and tingling. If this
sensation is what you’re experiencing, here are
five ways these symptoms may be treated.

1. actiVe phYsical therapY
(pt)
Active PT refers to any type of
therapeutic exercise that requires
your participation. If you have
numbness and tingling originating
from your spine, the right approach
to exercise may free compressed
nerves or ease nerve irritation
enough to minimize your discomfort.
There are many forms of active PT
that may help you achieve these
goals, including:
ØTargeted stretches
ØRange-of-motion exercises
ØPosture improvement exercises
ØExercises focusing on core muscle groups that support the spine

2. rest coMBined With
strenGth traininG
Irritated nerves sometimes just need
time to heal. If this is believed to be
the case with your symptoms, you
may be advised to rest to give your
compressed nerve time to heal.
However, rest should be limited to a
brief period and combined with
strength training and similar forms
of therapeutic exercise because too
much rest can weaken spine-supporting muscles and put more pressure on
the irritated nerve. Modifying your activities can also be helpful if you
need to ease stress on the part of your spine where the affected nerve
originates.

3. Medication
Nerve irritation that results in
numbness and tingling is
sometimes aggravated by
inflammation around the affected
nerve. If this is what’s worsening
your symptoms, you may be
advised to take over-the-counter
or prescription anti-inflammatory
drugs. Common over-the-counter
options include:
ØAspirin
ØIbuprofen
ØNaproxen
With prescription NSAID options,
your doctor or Los Angeles spine
surgeon can make recommendations
more specific to your symptoms. Your
unique health-related factors will also
be considered.

4. spinal iMplants
In some situations, a nerve is
permanently damaged. When
this happens, it can
continuously send incorrect
signals that trigger numbness,
tingling, and similar
uncomfortable sensations. If
this is the case, you may
benefit from an implantable
device that disrupts nerve signals with mild electrical stimulation. If you’re
a good candidate for an implantable device, you may be given a trial
device that’s not implanted to try for a few weeks. If you respond well to
the device, it can then be inserted with minimally invasive surgical
techniques.

5. surGerY
If conservative treatment
efforts aren’t providing
sufficient relief, the doctor may
recommend a surgical
procedure, such as a lumbar
foraminotomy. Los Angeles
patients may require surgery if
there is a structure, such as a
damaged disc, that’s placing
pressure on a spinal nerve. Surgery for irritated spinal nerves may involve:
ØRemoving or repairing a damaged spinal disc
ØRemoving a bone spur or similar growth
ØCreating more space around the affected nerve by removing certain spinal structures
ØRemoving part of the damaged nerve
ØUndergoing fusion surgery to stabilize the spine if a disc has to be removed

Since numbness and tingling can be symptoms associated with
many different spine-related issues, it’s important to get an
accurate diagnosis before starting treatment. This process
typically involves a physical exam and image tests performed for
the purpose of confirming a suspected source. Nerve conduction
studies or diagnostic injections may also be necessary to pinpoint
the affected nerve.
If you’re experiencing numbness, tingling, or severe back pain or
you have any other questions or concerns about your spinal
health, the industry-leading professionals at The Spine Institute
are here to help. Our spine experts are pioneers in every aspect of
spine care, including prevention, non-surgical treatment, and state
-of-the-art surgical techniques. Call one of our friendly
representatives today at 310-828-7757 to schedule a consultation.

the spine institute contact
Addresses
Santa Monica
details
Beverly Hills Office
2811 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 850
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 828-7757
444 San Vicente Blvd #901
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310) 248-7340
Email: support@laspine.com
Website: Laspine.com