Nerve Irritation

Numbness and tingling are symptoms generally associated with nerve damage or irritation. There are two major causes of nerve irritation, each requiring a different method of treatment, so a correct diagnosis of the cause of your symptoms is critical. The most common type of injury to a nerve is an impingement or “pinching” of the nerve. Nerve impingement often occurs at the spine and can be caused by being sandwiched between two spinal bones, pressed upon by a bulging disc or encroached upon by bony overgrowth.

Other than impingement, nerves can also become “stuck” to surrounding soft tissues (muscles, ligaments, fascia) usually as a result of repetitive motion injuries. This is commonly referred to as a "trapped" nerve.

“Pinched” Nerve

When a nerve exits the spine, it can become pressed between two bones or compressed by an unhealthy disc resulting in numbness and tingling in other parts of the body. The area where you experience these symptoms is indicative of where in the spine the “pinching” occurs. Nerve irritation in the neck often leads to symptoms in the shoulders, arms or hands. Similar problems in the low back can cause numbness and tingling down the legs and into the feet.

Treatment for “Pinched” Nerves

Nerve irritation related to joint dysfunction or bone malposition is best corrected using chiropractic adjustments. By using carefully directed and controlled pressure to restore joints to a normal position and motion, the pressure placed on the nerve is quickly and painlessly reduced. This often results in immediate (sometimes dramatic) pain relief.

“Trapped” Nerve

Nerves can also become irritated as they pass through muscles on their way toward their destinations. This is often referred to as a peripheral nerve entrapment. To allow smooth passage through muscle tissue that is always expanding and contracting, slippery sheaths guide the way for the nerves to pass through the muscle. They function in a capacity very similar to subway tunnels protecting trains as they are transported underground. When damage occurs to these nerves and their protective sheaths, scar tissue is laid down to repair the damage. Unfortunately, this leads to adhesions forming between the sheath and the nerve. This explains why numbness and tingling symptoms are often exacerbated by certain movements or with small, repetitive motions.

How Can a Nerve Become “Trapped” Within the Soft-Tissues?

Repetitive “rubbing” of sensitive soft-tissues or chronic contraction of a damaged muscle can lead to a cascade of progressive worsening. Both situations deprive the soft-tissue of much-needed oxygen due to the decreased “pumping” that occurs with healthy, full contraction and relaxation. This lack of oxygen triggers fibroblastic activity – the primary mechanism involved in the formation of scar tissue (fibrous tissue). Unfortunately, as more fibrous tissue is created, muscle oxygenation, flexibility and strength are further reduced. This process continues until function is degraded enough to create noticeable symptoms. In other words, repetitive motion injuries and cumulative trauma disorders could develop over moths, years or, even, decades before the first symptom is ever experienced! As the condition progresses, the “stickiness” of the soft tissues can extend into the spaces between these tissues forcing them to become “stuck” to one another. When this happens near or around nerves, it can cause a peripheral entrapment – more simply known as a soft-tissue nerve “pinch”.

Treatment for “Trapped” Nerves

When nerve tissue is trapped within or between muscles, the adhesions that cause the nerve to “stick” to the soft tissue are best removed using a muscle technique called Active Release Technique (ART). This is usually accomplished by applying specific pressure with a thumb or finger at the site of adhesion while moving the affected body part through a full and complete range of motion. Using this technique, the adhered tissue is held stationary while the nerve is pulled away and separated from the adhesion. This often creates an immediate reduction in nerve tension and, therefore, immediate (sometimes dramatic) symptom relief.