Yes! Physiotherapy CAN help to relieve your nerve pain!
Nerve pain is estimated to have a prevalence of up to 17% of the population and is often associated with injuries to the lower back or neck. If you find yourself grappling with nerve pain, you may be curious about the effectiveness of physiotherapy in providing relief.
Nerve pain is a complex condition that manifests differently in each individual. Typically, long-term compression or inflammation leads to the irritation of nerve fibres, resulting in sharp, burning sensations and occasional numbness. People may commonly refer to an irritated nerve as feeling like a “pinched nerve” or a “trapped nerve”.
So, can physiotherapy help with nerve pain? In severe cases, an irritated nerve can be debilitating and significantly impact one’s quality of life. Fortunately, physiotherapy offers a solution. At Inline Physio, we recognize that pain experiences vary, which is why we tailor our pain management programs for each client. In this article, we will delve into how physiotherapy can aid in managing a range of nerve pain symptoms, including common conditions like sciatica and peripheral nerve entrapments (commonly known as pinched nerves).
Understanding Sciatica
When addressing the question of whether physiotherapy can help with nerve pain, it is essential to focus on sciatica, one of the most prevalent types of nerve pain. Sciatica causes debilitating pain in the back, hips, and legs, severely impacting the lives of those affected. This condition arises from irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, which originates in the lower back and travels down through the buttock and into the back of the leg.
Often, a common mistake is referring to any low back pain or radicular leg pain as sciatica. Sciatica is specific to the pain that is a direct result of sciatic nerve or sciatic nerve root pathology. The sciatic nerve is made up of the L4 through S2 nerve roots, which come together at the pelvis to form the sciatic nerve. At up to 2 cm in diameter, the sciatic nerve is easily the largest nerve in the body. Sciatica pain often is worsened with flexion of the lumbar spine, twisting, bending, or coughing.
Physiotherapy for Sciatica
Upon receiving a diagnosis of sciatica from your doctor, they often recommend physiotherapy for treatment and management. The goal of physiotherapy for sciatica is twofold: to provide relief from nerve and associated pain and to facilitate healing within the nervous system and surrounding tissues. Consistent and regular treatment also helps prevent future recurrences and flare-ups. Physiotherapists are experts in educating and treating clients using rehabilitative methods for nerve pain, such as sciatica. Alongside the client’s goals, physiotherapy aims to restore movement and function, reduce pain associated with sciatica, and promote tissue healing. Treatment for sciatica typically involves a combination of strengthening and stretching exercises, along with soft tissue techniques like massage, mobilization, and dry needling.
Understanding Peripheral Nerve Entrapments
Another crucial condition to consider is peripheral nerve entrapments, with carpal tunnel syndrome being a common example. Physiotherapy can also assist in the treatment and management of this type of nerve pain. It occurs when excessive pressure is applied to the tissues surrounding the nerves as they pass through various areas of the body, such as tendons, bones, muscles, or cartilage. Prolonged pressure on the tissue surrounding the nerve can lead to decreased nerve function, resulting in weakness, numbness, pain, or tingling. While most peripheral nerve injuries resolve on their own, ongoing or persistent nerve pain necessitates review and treatment from a medical professional, such as a physiotherapist.
Physiotherapy for Peripheral Nerve Entrapments
The physiotherapy approach for peripheral nerve pain varies depending on the affected area. During your initial visit, a comprehensive assessment will be conducted to determine the location of nerve compression. Treatment techniques may include soft tissue techniques like massage or dry needling, joint mobilization and manipulation, exercise, and education. Let’s take a closer look at these methods.
Soft Tissue Techniques (Massage or Dry Needling)
Massage and dry needling target the tendons and muscles surrounding the affected area. These muscles may become tight and tender due to changes in posture or immobility caused by pain. The aim of these soft tissue techniques is to reduce tension within the tissues, restore function, and alleviate associated pain.
Joint Mobilization & Manipulation
Joint mobilization and manipulation are common physiotherapy techniques that aim to relieve stiffness and pain within the joints. Nerve pain often coincides with joint stiffness or inflammation caused by nerve root compression as it exits the spinal column. These gentle techniques help improve joint mobility, reduce pain, and enhance overall function in a short period.
Exercise for Nerve Pain
Exercise plays a vital role in physiotherapy treatment for nerve-related pain. Physiotherapists will tailor an exercise program based on your goals and physical activity level. Exercise has been proven to reduce inflammation, regain strength and function lost due to nerve pain, promote tissue healing, and prevent future occurrences.
Education about Nerve Pain
Physiotherapists possess extensive knowledge and training in assessing and treating nerve pain. At Inline Physio, we provide patients with the necessary knowledge to better understand their condition, the causes of nerve pain, and the benefits of the assessments and treatments utilised during sessions.
Managing Persistent Pain with Inline Physio
“Yes, physiotherapy can help with nerve pain.” At Inline Physio, we are here to assist you. Our physiotherapists begin by conducting a comprehensive assessment of your current condition, including it’s irritability, severity and the affect it has on your daily life.
With education and a better understanding of your unique experience with persistent pain, we will help you to effectively manage flare-ups.
Helping you to identify your personal goals is an important step in your treatment with us so that we know exactly what success looks like to you. Combining manual therapy and movement exercises, we aim to help you achieve these individual and personalised goals.
If you are after more information or have additional questions about nerve pain, please don’t hesitate to reach out and book an appointment with one of our Inline Physio team.