Pinched Nerve And The Benefits Of Physiotherapy

What is a Pinched Nerve?

Pinched nerve results from a lot of pressure being applied on nerves within tissues like bones, cartilage, tendons, and muscles. The nerves end up being painful, numb, weak, and tingling.

There are so many body parts that can experience pinched nerves. For instance, a herniated disk on the lower spine can exert pressure on the nerve root. This can result in a lot of pain that goes down the back of your legs. Your hands and fingers can also experience pains and numbness due to a pinched nerve in your wrist.

The pain originating from a pinched nerve can be very painful. However, the condition can be treated within a few days through medication, therapy or surgery.

What Are the Causes of Pinched Nerve?

Various conditions may cause tissue to exert pressure on a nerve. Some of these conditions include;

Arthritis rheumatoid generates inflammation in the joints, which can strain adjacent nerves.
The spine and discs deteriorate with age due to “wear and tear.” Discs in the spine can lose water and dehydrate over time. The vertebrae (bones in the spinal cord) come closer together, and as a result, the body generates bone outgrowths. These spurs, or bone growths, can impede nerve function.
A pinched nerve can be caused by a sport-related or accident-related injury.
Herniated discs can be caused by awkward pressing, pulling, or twisting.
Repetitive motions, such as extended durations of typing on a keyboard, can create wrist and hand strain. This might cause carpal tunnel syndrome (tendon inflammation pressuring the median nerve in your arm).
Overweight or obese: Excess weight can expand your neural pathway, putting strain on your nerves.
The added weight during pregnancy may cause nerve compression.
High quantities of glucose (sugar) in the blood might be detrimental to the nerves.
Thyroid disease. If you are suffering from thyroid, you are at risk of getting carpal tunnel syndrome.

If a nerve is compressed briefly, there is typically no permanent injury. Once the pressure is released, normal nerve function resumes. However, severe discomfort and lasting nerve damage may result if the pressure persists.

What Are the Symptoms of Pinched Nerve?

Once you have a pinched nerve, you can experience some of the following symptoms;

Pains
Numbness
Tingling
Weakness of your muscles
Feeling like your foot is asleep

How Do you Diagnose Pinched Nerve?

When you visit a doctor, he/she will examine your hands, shoulders, arms, and wrist to determine the source of your pinched nerve. The physician can also check your muscle weakness, test reflexes changes, and understand the sensations you are encountering.

The doctor can also recommend image testing to better understand the pinched nerve problem. Some of the imaging tests that are highly used include X-ray, Computed tomography (CT) scan, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and electromyography (EMG).

What Are the Treatments of Pinched Nerve?

Resting

Some so many people don’t even require medical attention to treat a pinched nerve. They just need to relax, and with time the pain just disappears.

Applying ice and heat

Ice and heat give temporary relief to any pain that might result from a pinched nerve.

Pain relievers

You can use various pain relievers to do away with any pinched nerve pain. You can consult with a physician for appropriate advice.

Corticosteroids

To alleviate discomfort, your physician may prescribe potent anti-inflammatory drugs like prednisone. These may be administered orally or injected directly into the afflicted region.

Surgery

If non-surgical treatments fail to work on your condition, you will be advised to go for surgical treatment on your pinched nerve. Some of the common surgery used to treat pinched nerves include;

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)

Surgeons remove nerve-compressing disks or bone spurs from the spine and then consolidate the spine by fusion. In fusion, the vertebrae are linked, resulting in the formation of a single, dense bone.

Artificial disk replacement

It will involve removing and replacing the injured disk with an artificial disk.

Posterior cervical laminoforaminotomy

The surgeon reduces the thickness of the lamina to improve access to the injured area and then extracts any bone spurs and tissues that are pressing the nerve.

Physiotherapy

Stretching and mild exercise might relieve minor pain and ease pressure on the nerves. Consult your physician or physiotherapist regarding the best activities for the sort of pinched nerve you are undergoing.

What Are the Benefits of Physiotherapy?

Effectiveness

A therapist for pinched nerves provides individualized physical therapy regimens based on the nature and extent of the patient’s issue. In addition, the patient’s age, health, weight, and other demands will play a key role in determining tailored physical therapy.

As a strategy for treating a pinched nerve, physiotherapy treatment is more efficient than other non-surgical approaches, such as medication administration and steroid injections, because it provides much more than pain alleviation.

Physiotherapy relaxes and reinforces the affected area’s muscles, allowing the patient to regain his previous levels of mobility and flexibility. In addition to preventing future injuries, a person’s stability, posture, and coordination are enhanced by having stronger muscles.

Safety

In terms of safety, physiotherapy treatment also outperforms several alternative treatments for a pinched nerve. Not all individuals diagnosed with a pinched nerve are deemed surgical candidates. Age and general health of the patient are among the qualifying factors.

Occasionally, people with spinal disorders cannot receive specific medications due to an underlying health condition or a drug regimen. After taking the medications suggested for a pinched nerve, some individuals may also experience unpleasant adverse effects.

However, physical treatment can be prescribed to the vast majority of individuals. A physical treatment program designed by a skilled therapist following a thorough analysis of the patient’s unique circumstances and needs is risk-free and has no adverse effects

Final Thoughts

Pinched nerve condition needs proper attention, especially when it keeps persisting. You can choose physiotherapy as the best approach to treat pinched nerves due to the effectiveness and safety of the procedure.

Why Choose Physiotherapy First

Our Brampton physiotherapists are well-educated and trained in the latest techniques and methods to provide you with a individualized exercise program. They undergo ongoing training and certification programs to further provide exceptional quality of care for each of our patients.

To learn more about physiotherapy treatments and services, how they could benefit you, or to schedule an initial consultation, please feel free to call Physiotherapy First at 905-796-6662 today!

We look forward to speaking with you to answer any questions you may have, discussing your health benefits plan coverage, and helping you alleviate your pain and discomfort to feel better.