Pinched Nerve

Pinched Nerve in the shoulder
 

What Does A Pinched Nerve Feel Like?

Ever had neck pain radiating to your shoulder and even down your arm? Or pain shooting into your buttock and down your leg? Perhaps losing strength in your arm or leg or a feeling of numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes? Chances are that you have irritated a nerve and that nerve is sending these painful or distressing symptoms down your arm or leg. It can be one of the most painful injuries we see at The Physiotherapy Place and finding relief can be difficult, even at night, so loss of sleep can compound the problem.

How Does A Trapped Nerve Happen?

The spine comprises 32 vertebrae stacked on top of each other. The solid bony structure encases the spinal cord which runs down the centre of the spine. Between each vertebrae there is an opening where the nerves exit the spine and from here they connect to different parts of the body. The nerves that exit at the neck travel into the arm and the nerves that exit at the lower back travel into the leg. The nerve is vulnerable to being pinched as it leaves the spine - anything that closes down the space such as a disc bulge or a bone spur can compress the nerve here. Nerves can also be pinched on their route down into the arm or leg in places where they travel between muscles or over joints.

How Do You Fix A Pinched Nerve?

The priority is to figure out where the nerve is being pinched and to ‘unpinch’ it. If the nerve is being trapped at the spine then we need to loosen that part of the spine to release the nerve, if it is a tight muscle pressing on the nerve then that muscle needs to be released and stretched. Once the nerve is not being restricted and is free to slide and glide again then it will usually settle down.

Do Pinched Nerves Go Away On Their Own?

Sometimes they do go away on their own if the muscle or joint that is pinching it releases spontaneously. Once a pinched nerve has persisted for more than 3 or 4 weeks though it usually needs a bit of extra help to get it released again.

Does Nerve Entrapment Show Up On MRI?

Often a pinched nerve will show up on an x-ray or MRI, particularly if it is a slipped disc or a narrowing of the space between the vertebrae that is causing it. A scan will normally show these structures pressing on the nerve. A scan should only be part of the whole clinical picture for a diagnosis to be made as it has been shown that people with disc bulges can also have no symptoms at all.

How Long Does It Take For A Nerve That Is Pinched To Heal?

Once the nerve is released, it usually takes between 2-6 weeks for the nerve to settle down and function normally again. This varies depending on the severity of the entrapment and the damage down to the nerve. Occasionally if the nerve was badly damaged, it can take several months for the full function of the nerve to return.

What Can A Physio Do?

A physiotherapist will perform a series of tests that will determine exactly which nerve is irritated and where it is getting pinched. The location of your symptoms or the specific muscles that are painful or have lost power will help to determine the exact nerve that needs to be treated. Some of the techniques that I use to treat pinched nerves are:

If treated promptly and effectively, most pinched nerves can be treated well and symptoms will resolve within a matter of weeks.