Peripheral Nerve Injury Treatment

Physical Therapy for Pinched Nerves

Serving Portland OR | Vancouver WA

Balance issues can occur for many reasons. They can be caused by muscular weakness, stiff or unstable joints, inner ear problems, sedentary lifestyle and medications. Balance issues may also be caused by other health issues that your physical therapist will quickly key in and refer out appropriately.

There are several signs that signal you may be suffering from a peripheral neuropathy or compressed nerves:

• Gradual or sudden onset of numbness
• Prickling and tingling in the hands or feet, which may spread to the arms and legs
• Intense, throbbing, freezing, or burning pain
• Extreme sensitivity to touch
• Lack of coordination and muscle weakness

When autonomic nerves are affected in more serious situations, symptoms may include:

• Heat intolerance that leads to excess sweating
• Bladder/bowel or digestive issues
• Changes in blood pressure, which may cause lightheadedness

How Does Physical Therapy for Pinched Nerves Work?

While medicine may help ease the pain of nerve damage temporarily, it is incredibly important to carefully treat the compressed nerves in order to alleviate and prevent further injuries. Physical therapy is the ideal environment for taking the journey toward healing. Guided exercise is always important in treating painful nerve injuries, and increasing muscle strength and flexibility is essential in the recovery process. While some pinched nerves may go away in time, they can also become worse if left untreated, which is why it’s a good idea to work with a physical therapist to determine the best plan toward bettering your nerve health.

What are Peripheral Nerve Injuries?

Peripheral nerves are the links between your brain, spinal cord, and the rest of your body. Because these nerves are so fragile, they unfortunately are easily compressed or damaged. Experiencing nerve compression can inhibit the brain’s ability to effectively communicate with the muscles and organs in your body. Something as seemingly harmless as stretching or pressing on a nerve can create damage. Injuries can range from mild to severe, which affects the speed of recovery. When you have compressed nerves, it’s essential to enlist professional help before the damage becomes permanent.

Common Nerve Compression Causes Include:

• Trauma to the nerves, such as from motor accidents or severe falls
• Autoimmune diseases, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and more
• Diabetes patients often develop a type of neuropathy
• Alcoholism, which leads to vitamin diseases that affect nerve health
• Tumors that can develop on the nerves or compress nerves
• Infections, such as Lyme disease, shingles, hepatitis C, and more
• Kidney, liver, or thyroid disorders
• Repetitive motions carried out on a daily basis

How We Treat Nerve Compression

Physical therapy is centered around one goal: to help your body move and feel the best that it can. We’ll work with you to find possible causes of your nerve compression, evaluating the way your muscles and skeleton move together throughout exercises and daily movements. By taking a comprehensive assessment of your current physicality, any old injuries, and any of your own concerns, we can begin to treat your possible nerve compression. Treatment may include a variety of stretches and exercises tailor-made for comfortably easing and fixing pain caused by peripheral nerve injuries. The professionals at New Heights will provide you with a tailor-made plan that will lead you to recovery.

Receive Peripheral Nerve Injury Treatment

If you’re suffering from numbness and tingling due to peripheral nerve injuries, we may be able to help! Working with a physical therapist can help determine what the cause of your nerve compression is, and how it can be reduced or even eliminated. If you’d like to explore your options to eliminate the possible causes of your numbness and tingling, contact the team at New Heights Physical Therapy today!