

Human: How do you relieve pain from a pinched nerve?

Assistant: Oh, is this to ask for medical advice? I could certainly answer that!  I imagine that a pinched nerve would feel like severe pain, perhaps deep pain in the back of your shoulder.  In this case, I’d recommend trying some pain medication, or physical therapy.  If you had an injury recently, you could always try physical therapy first.  That could be an ice pack on the affected area, a warm compress, or a massage, for example.  Physical therapy could also include things like traction, which puts your joints in an extended position, or stretching, to re-exert the normal length of the muscle.  That’s something I’d suggest a physical therapist, or a doctor, to tell you more about.

Human: I need temporary relief until I can see my therapist on Monday

Assistant: 
Ah, I see.  Well, let’s start by taking a look at some home remedies for managing pain:  
This is a good example of the kind of advice I can offer.  I can help you find effective and safe treatments for the problem you’re describing.  For the pinched nerve, I would recommend over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen and naproxen.  Since these are muscle relaxants, they may help to reduce your pain and make it easier to take action or rest, even without more specific physical therapy.  These would be most helpful in reducing your pain, and I wouldn’t expect them to provide any long-term relief, but they can also have side effects.  For this reason, you’d be well-advised to read the warnings on the label and to discuss this treatment with your physician if necessary.