Understanding Causes of Nerve Pain There are many different causes of nerve pain, but there are some things that are a common thread that tell us when a nerve is injured. Some characteristics of nerve pain are: • The pain comes and goes. Many people wonder if they have a rotator cuff shoulder problem; then, I ask them when it hurts, and they say it comes and goes. BINGO, not a rotator cuff problem. Most likely, it is a pinched nerve in the neck. • The pain is described as “numb” and “tingling.” I can think of very few things other than a nerve that produce numbness and tingling. It might be a problem with circulation as well, but there are fairly simple ways to tell. • The pain appears “mysteriously;” you wake up one day and your elbow hurts for no known reason. Or you wake up and your leg hurts and it won’t go away. These are all signs of a nerve injury. Of course, we do Pressure Specified Sensory Devise (PSSD) painless nerve testing, and that can help determine the cause as well. This painless nerve testing is extremely sensitive, and because it is painless, we can retest sensation to make sure the treatments you’re receiving are successful. Perhaps the most common nerve problem we deal with is carpal tunnel syndrome. This is usually caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist. It generally starts with numbness, tingling, and pain in the fingers and hand at night. At first it comes and goes, but over time it becomes more frequent, and even starts happening every night. The numbness gets more intense and bothersome, and eventually the hand and fingers may even start to go numb during the day with gripping or repetitive activities. Patients may complain of hand tingling during driving, crocheting, or working in the yard. Unfortunately, if left untreated, symptoms may get increasingly worse to the point where nerve damage is being irreversible. What can be done? We have found that the Dynasplint Carpal Tunnel System is a good way to get rid of the symptoms. This painless device is really not a splint at all; rather, it is a really clever and well-engineered apparatus that stretches open the ligament that sits over the median nerve in the wrist. It is placed on the wrist for short periods of time, and treatments are repeated, along with therapy, over the course of a few weeks; pretty soon, you will notice numbness, tingling, and pain in your hand beginning to resolve. It’s a nice option for people who want to keep using their hand and do not have time for surgery. The unit is also available to rent for home use. If you have pain, numbness, or tingling in any part of your body and you’re wondering what’s wrong, we can help you and your doctor find out what’s going on. In addition to finding your problem and helping you feel better, we make it easy for you as well. No fooling around in the waiting room here; we will get you in and out promptly. In addition, our friendly billing staff will answer any of your questions about payment with a smile. So if you have pain, numbness, or tingling, why not give us a call today? Call (301) 759-4263 and try therapy first at TriState Hand & Occupational Therapy. Stop suffering and get back to having fun again! |
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