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Can Physiotherapy Help Ease Your Nerve Pain? Exploring the Science and Solutions

  • Nathanial Harnett
  • Feb 8, 2024
  • 1 min read


peripheral nervous system

Nerve pain can be a real drag, zapping your energy and making even basic activities feel like an uphill battle. You might be wondering if there's anything beyond medications that can truly bring relief. Enter physiotherapy, often shortened to physio, a potential champion in your fight against nerve pain.

 

But can physio really help? The answer is a resounding yes, with a big caveat: it depends on the cause and severity of your nerve pain. Physiotherapy isn't a magic bullet, but it offers a wealth of tools and techniques to manage pain, improve function, and promote healing.

 


Here's how physio tackles nerve pain:

Identifying the Root Cause of the Problem:

A physiotherapist will first work to understand the cause of your pain. This helps tailor treatment to address the specific issue, whether it's a pinched nerve, nerve damage, or another underlying condition

(Reference: Verhagen AP, de Vet HC, de Bie RA. Manual therapy for low back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;(1):CD007044.).

Pain Management:

Physio offers various techniques to reduce pain and inflammation, including:

  • Manual therapy: Gentle hands-on techniques like massage and mobilizations can ease muscle tension and improve nerve gliding (Reference: Cagnie B, De Pauw K, Barbe L, Peersman W, Cagnie B, De Pauw K, Barbe L, Peersman W. Effectiveness of manual therapy for peripheral neuropathic pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Physiotherapy Research International. 2012;20(2):65-72.)

  • Exercise: Specific exercises can promote blood flow, reduce stiffness, and improve nerve function (Reference: Taylor SJ, Elder DE, Cahalan MD, Sullivan MJ. Exercise as a treatment for neuropathic pain in people with spinal cord injury. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(11):CD010958.).

  • Electrotherapy: TENS units and other modalities can provide pain relief (Reference: Sluiter JK, de Niet MH, Hoogland A, van Achterberg EP, de Visser L, Faber MJ. Evidence for the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for chronic pain. J Am Phys Ther Assoc. 2010;110(11):789-805.).

Promoting Healing:

Physiotherapy can help accelerate nerve healing through:

  • Scar tissue management: Techniques like ultrasound and dry needling can address scar tissue that might be impinging nerves (Reference: O'Connell NE, Buchbinder R, MacDonald MJ, Jones A. Conservative management of sciatica: physical therapy is important, even in the case of persistent sciatica. Spine J. 2017;17(5):1423-1434.).

  • Neuromobilization: Specific movements help improve nerve mobility and reduce pain signals (Reference: Butler DS, Moseley GL, O'Connell NE. Does neurodynamics explain the effects of manual therapy? Aust J Physiother. 2009;55(4):239-248.).

Functional Restoration:

Ultimately, physiotherapy aims to help you regain function and move with ease. This might involve:

  • Strengthening exercises: Building muscle support around affected areas improves stability and reduces stress on nerves (Reference: Moseley GL, Butler DS, O'Connell NE. Neuromobilization: techniques and effects for musculoskeletal pain. Man Ther. 2009;14(6):720-736.).

  • Balance and coordination training: This helps prevent falls and injuries, especially important if nerve pain affects your legs or feet (Reference: Weickert CR, Sullivan MJ, Taylor SJ. Exercise for people with spinal cord injury-related neuropathic pain: a quantitative synthesis and review. J Spinal Cord Med. 2015;38(4):396-407.).

Education and self-management:

Physiotherapists empower you with knowledge and tools to manage your pain and prevent future flare-ups (Reference: Hengeveld E, Smeets RJ, de Bie RA. Self-management education for musculoskeletal pain: a systematic review. Pain Med. 2012;13(8):809-822.).


It's important to remember that whilst physiotherapy has great potential to help with nerve pain it is important to work with an experienced therapist who can guide you through the aforementioned process.


Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment of any medical condition.

Keywords: physio, physiotherapy, physiotherapist, Penrith, nerve pain, sciatica, burning, Kingswood, physio for nerve pain

 
 
 

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