What are Peripheral Nerves?

Peripheral nerves are those which lay outside the Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord) and primarily travel along your limbs. The Peripheral Nervous System contains nerve bundles and axons which are responsible for carrying signals between your limbs and your Central Nervous System.

They work to provide information to your brain regarding sensation and then transmits the message that enables your muscles to contract. The Peripheral Nervous System is also involved in many subconscious vital processes such as the beating of our heart, the expansion and contraction of the lungs and digestion of food along with many more.

How Can the Peripheral Nerves Cause Pain and Dysfunction?

Due to the intricate pathways some nerves take, they can be susceptible to irritation or damage due to compression or friction caused by external sources such as prolong duration s of sitting or direct impact.

They are also exposed to internal sources such as compression or friction from various structures surrounding the nerve such as muscles. Long lasting compression or friction could result in compromised blood flow to the nerve as well as potentially leading to neurogenic inflammation around that site.

The impacted nerve can then influence sensations and muscular control, with subsequent messages of potential damage being sent to your brain which responds by generating pain in that region, in attempt to prevent harm.

 

 

Common Symptoms of Peripheral Nerve Entrapment

  • Sensory disturbances: changes in sensation, numbness and tingling
  • Motor disturbances: impacted control of muscles
  • Pain: described as aching, burning, sharp, shooting or stabbing.

How Can You Differentiate Nerve Pain from Muscular Referral?

Generally when a nerve is involved there will be specific sensory or motor disturbances elicited (as listed above). However, some nerves can be more difficult to identify than others, especially when there is aching involved which can be inaccurately presumed to be generated from muscles.

Myotherapists utilise their in-depth knowledge of all nerves, in particular their various responsibilities, in conjunction with performing thorough assessments to identify the specific nerve involved and the process by which it is being impacted.

This allows Myotherapists to structure their personalized treatment and rehabilitation approach regarding the specific needs of each client.

What Can Contribute to Developing Nerve Entrapment?

The factors which contribute to the development of a nerve entrapment will depend on the area of the body which has been effected.

Various every day factors such as sustained sub-optimal posture, sedentary behavior, repetitive movements, daily activities, recreational hobbies and poor bio-mechanics are all factors which can predispose you to developing peripheral nerve entrapment.

How can a Myotherapy Treat Peripheral Nerve Entrapment?

A Myotherapist has extensive knowledge and ability to; firstly, successfully identify how and why the nerve is causing a problem and secondly, to specifically aid in the recovery and rehabilitation starting from the very first treatment.

In order to accomplish this goal, Myotherapists utilize various techniques such as nerve mobilization, massage, dry needling, cupping and joint mobilization in conjunction with specific treatment plans involving rehabilitation exercises.

Myotherapists emphasize and educate clients on the importance of good posture and bio-mechanics, while also assessing all factors throughout the individual’s working and everyday life to identify anything that could be contributing to the development of the condition.

 

If you or someone you know is currently experiencing symptoms that sound like a peripheral nerve entrapment, or if you simply want to learn more, book an appointment at Elite Myotherapy Carlton.

Contact Elite Myotherapy on  9826 2006 and make a Myotherapy appointment today.

Written by: Joseph Hamilton (Myotherapist)