Pinched, trapped or irritated nerves can be painful and problematic, impacting your daily life. In this article, we’ll explore the causes of pinched nerves, and look at some ways osteopaths can help get you back to a pain-free life.
How do nerves get pinched?
We talk about pinched or trapped nerves when you have nerve pain or symptoms, such as tingling, numbness or weakness.
It’s important to note that a pinched or trapped nerve is not a diagnosis. The key to treatment is to understand the underlying cause.
Sometimes, something presses directly on a nerve, such as a bone, ligament or bulging disc.
But it may be that local inflammation, which causes a release of chemicals, is irritating the nerve. Or the nerve may not beable to slide properly as you move, causing tension, pulling and irritation.
In addition, nerves can become symptomatic if they have a metabolic disadvantage, such as a compromise in their blood supply.
People with certain conditions, such as diabetes, hypothyroidism or rheumatoid arthritis, are more vulnerable to nerve compression. But even then, alleviating mechanical issues can often reduce nerve irritation sufficiently to calm the symptoms.
Some of the most common causes we see here at OCHK include:
- disc herniation (usually in the lower back)
- spinal joint sprain (often in the neck)
- spinal stenosis (narrowing of the bony channel in the spine)
- carpal tunnel syndrome
- repetitive strain injuries
- injury or trauma
We can alleviate the symptoms of a pinched nerve in all these cases using a variety of osteopathic techniques, and sometimes including corrective exercise therapy or yoga therapy to give effective and long-lasting results.
Which nerves tend to be affected?
Compression or irritation can happen to any nerve, but some are more prone than others. These include:
The sciatic nerve:
A bulging disc or bony changes in the lower part of the spine can affect the roots of the sciatic nerve, causing pain that shoots down the back of the leg, and tingling, numbness and weakness in the foot.
The median nerve:
The nerve passes through a tight channel formed by the small wrist (‘carpal’) bones and ligaments. If this channel is further narrowed by fluid swelling or bony displacement, you’ll feel tingling and numbness in the thumb, first three digits and associated palm, and thumb weakness. This is known as ‘carpal tunnel syndrome’.
The ulnar nerve:
This nerve feeds the other half of the hand and the little finger. Compression can occur at the elbow, where the nerve passes under a ligament – a space known as the ‘cubital tunnel’, and it leads to tingling and numbness in the little finger and half the ring finger. If you bang your elbow here – a spot colloquially known as the ‘funny bone’ – you’ll feel a transient tingling of the ulnar nerve.
Cervical nerve roots:
Like the lower back, problems in the neck such as a bulging disc or inflamed joint can impact the roots of nerves that run into the arm. Compression of a single root leads to a distinctive pattern of symptoms in the arm or hand.
The brachial plexus:
This network of nerves must squeeze through a gap between the first rib and collar bone on its path from the neck to the arm. Compression here can lead to shoulder and arm pain and tingling and weakness affecting the hand. This condition is known as ‘thoracic outlet syndrome’.
The posterior tibial nerve:
This nerve can be pinched as it passes through a ligamentous tunnel on the inside of the ankle (‘tarsal tunnel syndrome’). You’ll feel pain, burning and tingling in the bottom of the foot and the toes, and sometimes on the inside of the ankle and even into the calf.
Of course, pinched nerves can happen elsewhere, too. Your osteopath will be able to determine which nerves or nerve roots are in trouble, where the problem is happening, and the likely cause of the compression.
How can osteopathy help?
The first step is determining the site of compression and understanding what changes have led to it.
Then, we’ll devise a personalized plan to reduce stress on the nerve and allow it the freedom to glide naturally, as it should.
Techniques that can help might include:
- soft tissue massage to improve flexibility
- spinal manipulation to normalize joint function and relax surrounding tissues
- muscle energy techniques to lengthen muscles
- trigger point therapy to reduce soft tissue irritation
- fascial techniques to allow better sliding of layers of tissue over one another
- neural glides to reduce friction on nerves as they pass through the body
Alongside this, we will look at postural and biomechanical issues in your day-to-day life that may be impinging on nerve motion and function.
Proactive steps to avoid pinched nerves
Prevention, as they say, is better than cure. Taking a few steps to look after your health can help you avoid the pain of trapped nerves. This is especially true if you’ve already had a nerve entrapment.
Here are a few things to consider.
- Look after your posture.Good spinal alignment reduces the chance of nerves being impinged as they pass through the vertebrae.
- Stay active. Exercise regularly to maintain strength and flexibility. But also move and stretch throughout the day, especially if you’re stuck behind a desk.
- Check your ergonomics. Small changes, such as a wrist-rest at your keyboard, can prevent the long-term build-up of strain on the nerves.
- Manage stress. Chronic stress can lead to an inflammatory state in the body, adversely affecting nerves. Look after yourself with activities you enjoy, breathing techniques and relaxation exercises.
- Don’t ignore symptoms. If you feel a problem developing, don’t wait too long and allow the issue to build. Early intervention could mean a swifter, better resolution.
The OCHK approach to pinched nerves
All our treatments aim at improving function and reducing any blocks to good health and healing, and treating pinched nerves is no exception.
This approach means gathering an in-depth and fundamental understanding of the way your body functions, and in what context.
That’s why no two people receive the same treatment – every person, and therefore every treatment, is unique.
For example, nerve health can be impacted by posture, diet, stress, illness, life stage and activity. Taking all these factors into account helps us develop the most effective treatment plan for you.
So whether you’re a student with a pinched nerve in the neck, a middle-aged swimmer with thoracic outlet syndrome, an expectant mum with carpal tunnel syndrome, or an older adult with sciatica,the OCHK team can help.
By applying suitable techniques, suggesting changes you can make to reduce stress on the nerve, and improving your flexibility, strength and posture, we can help you find a solution to your pain.
Osteopathic treatment for pinched nerves can therefore deliver:
- pain relief
- better nerve function
- improved mobility and flexibility
- long-lasting results
If you have pain, tingling, burning or weakness and you’re looking for comprehensive and effective treatment, book a session with our osteopathic team today.