There are several hundred nerves of various lengths and diameters in your body. Nerves conduct signals to provide communication to and from the brain. In general, most nerves can be divided into motor or sensory performance. Motor nerves send instructions to muscles to contract or relax to provide movement. Sensory nerves send signals from the body to the spinal cord and brain for interpretation as sensations such as light touch, deep pressure or pain.
If a nerve is “pinched,” it can become “symptomatic,” meaning the body will begin to experience symptoms - most notably, pain. Typically, when a “pinched” nerve is contributing to pain, symptoms are described as sharp, tingling, numbness, shock-like, or shooting. Nerves can be pinched at any point along their path including between bony structures such as adjacent vertebrae with compromised spacing between them; or by tight muscles like the piriformis muscle in gluteal region compressing the sciatic nerve.
An evaluation by a physical therapist can help determine the source of symptoms, and develop a plan of care to help decrease symptoms and improve function. In other words, a physical therapist can help create a program of exercise, activities, modalities, therapies and home activities to decrease severity of pain symptoms and thus enable the patient to move more comfortably and with mechanics that are no longer compensatory – limping, hunched over, or movements with compromised mechanics.
Whether or not you have undergone imaging (MRI, x-ray, etc.), it should be noted that physical therapists can effectively treat a patient with a pinched nerve. Therapists have advanced, specialized training in diagnosis and exercise prescription. Based on your history, symptoms, limitations, desired level and type of activity and responses to tests, a physical therapist will work with you to find ways to help you attain your functional goals. A functional goal can be anything from playing basketball again, to being able to shop at the grocery store without a seated rest break.
Physical therapy is not a quick fix, and for most patients and conditions, it should not be assumed you can attend once or twice and find relief. Patients in my clinic typically see us multiple times a week, for several weeks at a time while congruently completing a very important home exercise program. It’s not for everyone, but for those who want to find relief and are dedicated to their own health, physical therapy is a great option other than surgery and medication to help provide relief and improve your quality of life.
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