What is nerve pain?

Nerve pain is a common contributing factor to a person’s overall pain presentation. It can cause tight muscles, stiff joints and restricted movements. Sometimes this pain is harder to describe and localize making it a difficult condition to understand. Nerve pain can be also be described as nerve irritation or nerve inflammation. When specific branch of a nerve is involved, it will often be named after that nerve.

Here are some common examples:

• Piriformis syndrome – involving the sciatic nerve as it runs through the piriformis muscle
• Sciatica – pain from the sciatic nerve that may start near the back/buttock and travel down the back of the leg
• Carpal tunnel syndrome – involving the median nerve at the inner wrist

Other terms used to describe nerve issues include:

• Radiculopathy – a nerve entrapment at the nerve root when it exits from the spinal cord through the spinal joints, sensation changes, weakness, or pain can present anywhere along the path of the nerve 
• Peripheral neuropathy – usually associated with other health conditions, such as diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, or other neurological conditions, often felt as sensation changes or weakness in the hands or feet 

Symptoms of nerve pain, nerve inflammation and nerve irritation can include:

• Burning
• Tingling
• Pins and needles sensation
• Weakness
• Heaviness
• Change in skin sensation
• Feeling of tight muscles and stretching does NOT help
• Achiness in a muscle or joint

A scan or imaging is NOT always required for nerve pain. Our physiotherapists will ask you specific questions and can perform specific tests regarding your pain to determine if a scan is required. If so, we will discuss this with you and your GP. Sometimes nerve pain medication prescribed may not make a difference in the pain you are experiencing.

Most nerve pain and nerve irritation can be treated by a musculoskeletal physiotherapist. At Barefoot Physio, we have specific and sensitive tests that will give us the information to guide our treatment. Our treatment is called Neural Tissue Management which involves joint mobilizations to neck or back joints. It can also include muscle treatment along the path of the irritated nerve. This will reduce the sensitivity of the nerves to allow them to be restored to their full gliding movements within the muscles and joints.

With our individualized and specific treatment approach, we can teach you ways to continue to keep your body happy and pain free. We will teach you muscle releases, motor control and exercises to ensure that nerve pain in the future is prevented.

If you or someone you know is experiencing nerve pain, whether it be a day, a week, or years, please contact us. We are open 2 days a week with early and late appointments, along with a couple Saturdays a month to accommodate your schedule. Please call us at 1300 842 850 or click here to book an appointment. All our physiotherapists are trained in nerve pain assessment and treatment.