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How do you treat a trapped nerve?

Most people make a full recovery over time without any intervention, but ibuprofen can help alleviate the pain. With more stubborn cases, treatment by a chartered physio can help.

What are the differences between NSAIDs and steroids?

Non-Steroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids both work to reduce inflammation (swelling) in the body. However, they’re used to treat different conditions.

The most recognisable NSAIDs are ibuprofen and naproxen, both of which can be bought over the counter. They alleviate the symptoms experienced during short-term bouts of pain, such as muscle strains, joint sprains, back or headaches or general discomfort sustained after an injury.

Steroids are far more powerful, and are more effective at reducing inflammation, but they also have many more side effects, so they must be prescribed and monitored by a doctor. They’re synthetic hormones that are used primarily to reduce inflammation in longterm conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, colitis and systemic arthritis.