There are many things that can be done to treat a pinched nerve in your neck or back, but what is best for you will of course depend on what your underlying issue is that caused the pinched nerve in the first place.

Pinched Nerve Treatment:

Back brace or corset

When worn, a brace can help to limit the amount of movement that the back can make and it also helps to keep the spine properly aligned. By doing this you may be able to keep your nerve from being pinched. However wearing a back brace or corset for a long period of time after the back has finished healing will cause the back muscles to weaken.

Medications

Medications such as Ibuprofen can help reduce pain and inflammation temporarily, while Acetaminophen can also be used to reduce pain or muscle soreness temporarily. There are also muscle relaxants that can help to reduce muscle spasms if that is a problem.

Rest

Sometimes a small amount of rest can be helpful by allowing the back to heal, but you will want to make sure that you do not rest to much as this can weaken the back muscles.

Cold therapy

This can be used if there is an acute injury, these are injuries that occur suddenly and not gradually over a period of time. This can be helpful by restricting the amount of blood that flows to the injured area helping to reduce swelling and pain.

Heat Therapy

This would be more useful if you have chronic back pain. Chronic back pain can be described as pain that occurs gradually and is long lasting. Heat therapy can help to relax sore muscles, increase joint mobility, and increase the amount of blood flow to the injured area. This increase of blood to the area can help to promote faster healing. If you have any swelling or inflammation you should not use this treatment as it will only make it worse.

Ultrasound

This can be used to promote tissue healing and is very effective if the pinched nerve is being caused by soft tissue irritation.

Massage therapy

Deep tissue massage can be helpful at reducing pain caused by a pinched nerve. This therapy can help reduce pain, increase blood circulation and increase joint flexibility, it is possible that the area may feel tender or inflamed following the massage, this should be only temporary.

Stretching

Making it a habit to stretch before and after an activity can help reduce the risk of injury by increasing back stability and flexibility. Before attempting any stretching techniques you should consult with your physician.

Exercise

Like stretching it can help to increase stability in the back by strengthening the muscles, improve flexibly and help to keep the body in good condition.

Acupuncture

This ancient Chinese technique can be performed to relieve back pain and promote healing. It is done by inserting needles into the skin and applying heat or electrical stimulation to those needles. This helps to trigger natural pain relieving chemicals from the brain as well as reducing inflammation and relaxing tense or sore muscles.