If the pain from a pinched nerve is severe, your doctor may recommend that you take painkillers. You may be advised to take over-the-counter painkillers, or you may be prescribed stronger prescription painkillers. Painkillers work by blocking and interfering with the pain signals going through the brain. If the pain signal does not reach the brain, then pain cannot be interpreted and felt. Examples of OTC painkillers include paracetamol and acetaminophen Examples of prescription painkillers include codeine and tramadol. NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications) work by blocking specific body chemicals that cause an injured area to become inflamed. Examples of NSAIDs are Ibuprofen, Naproxen and Aspirin. However, NSAIDs should not be taken in the first 48 hours of injury as they can delay healing. In the first 48 hours, inflammation is one of the body's compensatory mechanisms to the injury. NSAIDs can irritate the stomach, so they should always be taken with meals. Steroid injections can help to reduce inflammation and swelling, thereby allowing compressed nerves caused by inflammation to heal and recover. Steroid injections must be prescribed and administered by a doctor. The steroids will either be injected or administered through an IV. In some instances, you doctor will recommend that you wear a brace or splint on the affected hip. A brace or splint limits motion and allows the muscles to rest, relieving the pinched nerve and promoting healing. If all prior treatment measures fail, surgical intervention may be necessary to alleviate the pressure and compression of the nerves.

Summary: Take painkillers to relieve pain. Use NSAIDs to reduce inflammation. Receive steroid injections. Allow your doctor to place a brace or splint on your hip. Consider the possibility of surgery.

Avoid sitting or standing in the same place for an extended period of time since it can cause fluid to pool inside your body and increase your swelling. Get up to stretch your legs and take a brief walk for 34 minutes at least once an hour if you're able to. As long as you move around frequently, your edema will look less inflamed and feel less painful. Avoid crossing your legs while you're sitting since it can restrict blood flow and worsen your edema. Place your hand on the side of your edema that's furthest from your heart. Apply as much pressure to the swollen area as you can without hurting yourself. Move your hand over your edema, rubbing in the direction toward your heart to keep the fluid in your body flowing properly. For example, if you have edema in your feet, start massaging from your toes and work toward your ankle. Lie on your back if you can so it's easier to raise the swollen area higher than your heart. Prop up the area where you have edema with pillows or a cushion so blood and fluids drain away from it. If possible, keep the swollen area elevated for around 30 minutes about 34 times daily. If you're experiencing edema in your arms or hands, raise them straight above your head for about 12 minutes at a time to help drain the fluid. Lift your arms once every hour for continued relief. Choose a compression garment, such as a sleeve, stocking, or glove, that applies moderate amounts of pressure when you wear it. Put the garment on as soon as you wake up in the morning and keep wearing it as long as you're able to tolerate it, which may be a few hours or all day. You can wear compression garments every day to help manage and prevent edema. Avoid wearing compression garments that are too tight since they can irritate your skin. Compression garments apply even pressure on the affected area to prevent fluid from building up.

Summary: Walk around for a few minutes every hour. Massage the affected area toward your heart. Elevate the swollen area above your heart for 30 minutes at a time. Wear compression garments if you want to prevent further swelling.

In class it's important to write your assignments down. When your teacher tells you about an exam next Friday, write it down. Place a note about the exam for each day until the exam. Writing down your assignments will reinforce homework into your mental to do list. An organized schedule for your school work prevents you from being overwhelmed. For it to work, you need to use it everyday and look at it every time you sit down for homework. Different people like to work and read at different parts of the day. Try out a few time slots to figure out when you're most productive. It's common for students to take a small break after school and then study. Take time to have a quick snack and then sit down to study. If you finish your work in the afternoon, you can relax in the evening. Some people find it more beneficial to work on homework and study at night or early in the morning. This all depends on your schedule and habits. If you're committed to sports or an after school activity, you'll need designate your time to study carefully. It's easy to blow off studying after an intense training, so be aware. You need a desk or a table with a decent amount of space. You will also need good lighting. Students will often say that listening to music, having the TV on, or keeping their phone out helps, but these are all distractions. If you can't work in silence, listen to ambient music instead of music that's lyric driven. Avoid reading textbooks on your bed. The temptation to sleep increases when you study on your bed. Studying outside of your house can help you focus. Changing the literal room of where you study can improve your retention rate. Try visiting a local coffee shop or a nearby library. It depends on your preferences. A lot of people benefit from participating in study groups. These can be extremely informal and are usually very effective. You don't need to be a lone wolf when it comes to academics. Humans are social creatures. Even if you feel that you don't know as much as these other students, you should still try it. You'll find that you do have something to contribute to the group. Studies show that those who prepare for exams studying in a group have higher passing rates. There are three different types of learners: visual, auditory, or kinesthetic. If you're a visual learner, you might need to highlight your notes. If you're an auditory learner, you may need to make a song out of your notes. If you're a kinesthetic learner, you might need to act out your notes. Your learning style is a big part of studying success. If you're not studying in a way that complements your learning style, the information won't sink in as well. You need to at least study 2 and half hours everyday. So you need to study 30 minutes for each subject you have.
Summary: Keep an agenda. Plan your study time. Have a good space to study. Plan a study group. Know your learning style.