Feeling Numb? Why Nerve Compression Could Be To Blame

When you’re in pain, you want to find the root cause, not just mask the symptoms. Irritation or injury within your body that causes you pain, numbness, or inflammation, could be nerve compression.

Feeling numbness and tingling could be signs of life-threatening conditions, but more often than not it’s likely to be related to nerve compression or injuries. If you are concerned that you’re dealing with a nerve problem, here’s what could be going on and what treatment options we offer.

Explaining Nerves

In anatomy, Britannica defines nerves as a white cordlike bundle of fibers. These fibers are surrounded by a sheath that connects the nervous system to various parts of the body. The nerves then conduct impulses toward or away from the central nervous system. The human body has over 7 trillion nerves. The nervous system uses cells and nerves as messengers to talk to the rest of the body. These messages of sorts are sent through the entire body – from your head to your toes. 

Nerve Compression

A pinched nerve is what happens when a nerve is compressed. This means that there’s pressure pushing down on the nerve, which most commonly happens from using the muscle in one specific way too many times. For example, sitting down too long may cause your sciatic nerve to flare up. Nerves travel through small spaces of the body and can become compressed when squeezed in-between tissues like ligaments, tendons, and even bone. 

WebMD explains that inflammation or pressure placed on a nerve traveling from the spine can cause neck or low back pain. It’s also not uncommon for nerve pain to radiate into other parts of the body. For example, a pinched nerve causing neck pain can also begin to cause shoulder or arm pain.

Peripheral Neuropathy 

Neuropathy is an umbrella term that can be the result of a number of disorders. All the conditions that can cause neuropathy involve damage within the peripheral nerve system, which runs from the spinal cord and brain. Pressure placed on the nerves can block their signals, which can result in pain and other symptoms. Not only can peripheral neuropathy involve the autonomic or motor nerves, but also the sensory nerves as well. Common causes of peripheral neuropathy are:

• Physical injury
• Repetitive injury
• Infection
• Metabolic issues
• Toxin exposure
• Medication 
• Diabetes 

Types of Neuropathy 

We can help treat all major types of neuropathy relieving painful symptoms. Depending on the root cause, we might even be able to get your condition under control with regular treatments, or even eliminate the condition completely. The most common types of neuropathy that we treat are:

• Polyneuropathy – when damage irritates all peripheral nerves, or even part of them, it’s considered polyneuropathy despite whatever the cause is.
• Mononeuropathy – when a single nerve is compressed, as seen with carpal tunnel syndrome
• Multiple mononeuropathy – this type involves damage to two separate nerves at once 

Common Neuropathy Symptoms

The symptoms of neuropathy can be quite painful and serious. The most common symptoms associated with it are:

• Foot and ankle pain
• Inflammation in knees, calves, shoulders
• Limited range of movement
• Numbness and tingling of limbs
• Weakness or tremors
• Headaches and migraines
• Chronic pain
• Fatigue
• Stiff Neck

In some cases when nerve compression has been developed for a long time, it can cause the nerve to break down. When this happens, some patients begin to feel extra pressure and swelling. In some cases, scarring can occur and further affect the function of the nerve. 

Nerve Treatment with Texas Spine and Sports Therapy 

Since there is such a wide range of causes of neuropathy, we offer many treatments that can help alleviate the pain you’re feeling due to it. Patients find the most relief with these following treatments:

• High Frequency LED treatment: Using the most advanced light therapy available, we can increase microcirculation. This help release nitric oxide from red blood cells and promote healing.
• NVP8500/EPS8000 treatment: This high tech treatment is available to improve circulation and motor function in the peripheral nerve to help regain function.
• Oxygen with exercise: The brain and nerves need food, oxygen in this case, and activation to properly heal and function again. 
• Deep vibration: Vibration therapy applied to the feet to activate the nerve.
• Neuromuscular re-education: Advanced equipment activates the nerve and provides shear stress to the leg and foot.
• Functional neurology: Functional therapy for the brain and nervous system.

Schedule an Appointment

If you’re suffering from numbness or tingling, our team here at Texas Spine & Sports Therapy Center can help you. Our individualized neuropathy treatment plans can help you get on the road to recovery today. Call (512)-806-0015 to schedule your free consultation.