Isn't that a scary notion?! Many of our patients are told that they have pinched nerves. Just thinking about a pinched nerve gives me pain. Let's clear the air.
The truth of "pinched nerves" (Summarized from Neuro Orthopaedic Institute's Nov 09 newsletter)
1. When you look up at the stars, you pinch the nerves in your neck a bit. We do it all the time. They are designed to be pinched, rubbed, wriggled and squeezed. Most of the time, nerves love a good workout.
2. In autopsies, dead people have been shown to have scuffed, frayed, squeezed, pinched nerves yet in life they may never have complained of pain.
3.It's really hard to pinch or damage a nerve unless you take to the nerve with a pair of pliers, or there are some really significant arthritic changes in the spine or you are the victim of some nasty torture.
4. Even when a nerve is injured (and this takes quite a bit to do), it still may not hurt when physically handled or it may wait till you have the flu or are very stressed before it fires.
5. Most of the time when a person thinks that they have a "pinched nerve", it is usually a sensitive nerve.
How do you treat a sensitive nerve? Talk to one of our physiotherapists at Physio Solutions or Sports Solutions, forget the pills and move!
Photo courtesy of SaraBoli @ Flickr.com
2 comments:
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now. Keep it up!
And according to this article, I totally agree with your opinion, but only this time! :)
I have this sporadic sharp pain on my chest and it goes away in the last 2 months. My doctor said it is pinch nerve. I am going to see my physio. I am glad it is not heart related.
Andy Thomas
Post a Comment