Datchet Osteopathic Clinic - Nerve entrapment

Pains down arms/hands and legs/feet can be caused by nerves in the back being squeezed or compressed. The most common place for nerves to get squeezed or squashed in the spine is the neck (for arm pains) and in the low back (for leg pains). Nerves in the spine can either be compressed by a vertebral disc that is bulging, or by boney structures. Pressure on nerves causes pain as a result of both the physical force on nerves and also the inflammatory processes in nerves that this provokes. Osteopathic treatment can be effective at treating disc bulges and the resulting inflamatory response causing nerve pain. Where osteopathic treatment is not effective at managing your symptoms to an acceptable level, a referral to your GP for specialist review may be considered.

Nerve entrapment can happen in many places other than the spine, for example after inguinal (groin) hernia surgery nerve entrapment pains can occur; entrapment of Median Nerve "carpal tunnel syndrome" at the wrist especially during pregnancy.