What is Nerve Entrapment?

Nerve Entrapment is also known as compression syndrome, pinched nerve, or compression neuropathy. It is caused when a peripheral nerve losses mobility, flexibility, or becomes compressed by surrounding tissue. Nerve entrapment can cause neuropathic or neurogenic pain that can be either acute or chronic in nature.

Nerve Entrapment Syndrome occurs in individuals as a result of swelling of the surrounding tissues, or anatomical abnormalities.

The most common types of nerve entrapment include:

  • Firstly, Tarsal tunnel syndrome
  • Secondly, the Obturator nerve of the groin area
  • Thirdly, Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Fourthly, Thoracic outlet syndrome
  • Also, Cubital tunnel syndrome, etc.

Symptoms of nerve entrapment:

  • Especially, Localized or referred pain
  • Paraesthesia
  • Tingling, numbness, or electrical shock feeling
  • Burning sensation
  • Impaired movement of an affected body part
  • In addition, Muscle wasting
  • Also, there is Muscle weakness.

Treatment:

  • Non-surgical Treatment
    • Postural and biomechanical correction
    • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines
    • Bracing or Splinting
    • Physiotherapy
  • Surgical Treatment
    • surgery should be considered as the last option, as it can entail a lengthy recovery. the surgical procedure includes, such as local arthroscopic debridement, neural decompression, or an open spinal or local surgery.

Physiotherapy Treatment includes:

  • Pain Management
    • The physiotherapist uses modalities to relieve Pain such as-
    • In therapeutic massage, physiotherapist uses different massage technique for pain management and quality of life.
    • TENS can be proven very beneficial for neuropathic pain
    • Laser Therapy can reduce your neuropathic pain and accelerate healing.
    • Relaxation Techniques
    • Dry needling
  • Muscle Strengthening
    • Denervation results in muscle atrophy and functional deficits. In order to prevent muscle damage, it is extremely important to take good care of your muscles. This involves preventing trauma from heat and cold, overstretching from gravity, and incorrect lifting techniques. Muscle-strengthening exercises for example-
    • Passive ROM exercises
    • Isometric exercises
    • Graded weight progression exercises
    • Open-Close chain exercises
    • Therapeutic massage
    • Therapeutic Ultrasound
    • Hydrotherapy
    • Splints to prevent deformities
    • Aerobic exercises for 30 minutes 4 times a week.
  • Functional & Sensory Training
    • Recovery of sensibility is aided by sensory reeducation
    • It is common practice to use pinching, tapping, brushing, and icing in sensory stimulation.
    • It is the upper limb that teaches fine motor skills.
    • Lower limb exercises emphasize balance and coordination.
    • Swiss ball exercises
    • Balance board exercises
    • Wobble board activities
    • Also, Yoga, etc.
  • Joint stiffness treatment
    • Soft tissue mobilization
    • Therapeutic ultrasound
    • Also, Laser therapy
  • Last but not the least, Nerve gliding exercises
    • Nerve gliding exercises are indicated only at the last stage of nerve healing, not during the acute healing phase.