Osteopath Treatments for Trapped Nerve

For some individuals this above statement is all too familiar!

At DW Osteopathy we commonly see patients complaining of sharp pain, the inability to move properly and occasionally some sort of sensory changes that leads them to suspect they may have trapped a nerve. However, to trap, pinch or compress a nerve is quite rare.

All nerves in the body ultimately connect to the brain - allowing us to perceive and control our body. A disturbance in these nerves can result in disruptions in function. Most nerves follow a predictable route from the brain, via the spine cord to almost all tissues of the body. Normally these nerves don't get trapped or pinched when travelling to the muscles and joints around the body. However, when they do it can be extremely painful.

So, what is a Trapped Nerve?

Symptoms of a Trapped Nerve

A nerve that has been irritated through compression or pinching (trapped) will commonly present as an extremely sharp pain that might send shooting or electric shocks type symptoms down the arm or leg.

A trapped nerve in the neck, arm or wrist can cause pins and needles or numbness in the arm or hand. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one of the most common examples of a trapped nerve. In this condition, compression of nerves in the wrist leads to: pain, pins and needles, numbness or loss of strength in the hand.

It's important to remember that not all sharp pains or pinching sensations are pinching of nerves and this needs to be diagnosed properly. Something our practitioners at DW Osteopathy are trained to do.

Causes of a Trapped Nerve

A trapped nerve occurs when the compression on a peripheral nerve (a nerve that is outside of the spinal cord) begins to irritate the nerve and cause inflammation. This compression can come about from several structures/activities: disc herniation, arthritis, weight gain, tumours, pregnancy, repetitive activities, tight or dysfunctional muscles, ligaments and prolonged poor posture.

Irritation to a nerve can cause an inability to conduct sensory impulses to the brain in an appropriate manner. This can lead to partial / intermittent signals from the nerve (pins and needles) to absent signals from the nerve (numbness). Inflammation associated with damage or injury to the nerve can cause a sharp pain to also occur.

If the cause of the compression is addressed quickly, symptoms can resolve themselves within a week. However if the compression on the nerve persists for a long time, permanent nerve damage can result.

How to relieve a Trapped Nerve

All our practitioners at DW Osteopathy are fully trained to diagnose and treat all of the above causes of a TRUE trapped nerve.

Whilst respecting that all patients are different and require their own unique treatment plan, commonly a combination of gentle joint manipulation and muscle stretching/strengthening accompanied by series of gentle rehabilitation exercises help to free the nerve from its entrapment site and reduces symptoms.

If you think you are suffering from a trapped nerve, or any other form of pain, try to get seen as soon as possible to ensure your symptoms don't get any worse.

Treatments for Trapped Nerve

Don't suffer in pain!

Ouch - I think I've trapped a nerve!

Symptoms of a Trapped Nerve

Causes of a Trapped Nerve

How to relieve a Trapped Nerve