Pinched Nerves | Trapped Nerve

Pinched nerves, trapped nerve or nerve impingement is caused by pressure on a nerve root by something else. The pressure could be from your connective tissue, a bone or a cyst, inflammation around the nerve itself or from the structures within the spaces between your vertebrae. This intervertebral space can become narrowed due to a disc bulge or a bony narrowing that creates pressure on your nerve.

Nerve entrapment (trapped nerve) is slightly different from nerve impingement (pinched nerve). Entrapment of a nerve happens when the nerve gets stuck to fibrous tissue or when you have a fracture or a vein or cyst stops the nerve from moving when your body moves.

A pinched or trapped nerve creates a restriction in your blood supply to your nerve which can decrease its ability to respond quickly to move your muscles. If the blood flow to your nerve is restricted for a period of time this can lead to permanent nerve damage and a flow-on effect of weakness in the muscles supplied by that nerve.

The normal aging process of wear and tear, degenerative arthritis or poor posture can cause older people to have pinched nerves. However, in the younger population, your nerves can often become pinched as a result of overuse or from an injury that leads to a disc bulge.

Your neuromuscular system is the connection between your brain and your muscles, controlling and coordinating all your movement. Your nerves are also responsible for sending messages to and from your brain about where your body is positioned in space (proprioception), muscle contractions and information about your senses.

If you have a trapped nerve or pinched nerve, you don’t only experience pain at the nerve root and along the associated nerve/muscle pathway, but your movements and motor responses will be also affected.

If you think you have a pinched or trapped nerve, don’t delay, come and see us at City Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic & Pilates Adelaide CBD for an assessment and treatment of your nerves today.

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