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Our nervous system spans the entire body through a series of mobile and adaptive conductors. We typically divide the nervous system into the central nervous system – brain, brainstem and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system which basically covers everything else. Our peripheral nervous system encompasses the nerves that relay commands to affect or move our joints by acting on our musculoskeletal system.

In some cases, our nerves can get irritated as a result of an injury or dysfunction somewhere else. “Sciatica” is one most of our clients are concerned with, especially with the reverence and coverage it receives. The same can happen in the neck. This post will help guide you through the initial process of the injury. For starters, get it assessed by your physiotherapist or doctor right away to get the recovery on the right track and to get the appropriate diagnosis. Many conditions can look like an irritated nerve and I would highly encourage less online diagnosis in this case and having it assessed by a medical professional.

In cases where the condition is related to a sensitive nerve and you want to see a therapist but can’t get an appointment right away, start off by finding a position of comfort. Most of these problems are mechanical which is great. Mechanical problems have patterns that trigger the symptoms and relieve them. Relieving the symptoms can often really help shorten the recovery times. These rules apply for the low back and the neck as well. In these cases, our initial approach is to temporarily avoid these aggravating positions until the sensitivity settles down. Your therapist will guide through a gradual reintroduction when appropriate.

If you have neck pain that migrates down the arm, there are some modifications that can be done to your pillow that can offer some relief while resting. Try using a towel roll to support the underside of your neck.

See the video below to learn how:

These injuries can be very scary but they don’t need to be. If you have some of these issues, consult with our team of registered physiotherapists and massage therapists to help you move freely again and guide you through the recovery process.

Iyad Salloum, MPT, IMS