What Diseases Cause Nerve Entrapment?

Understanding Nerve Entrapment: Causes, Syndromes & Recovery

Nerve entrapment is one of the most misunderstood diseases. If you experience a sharp shooting pain, tingling sensation, or numbness, do not be quick to dismiss it. These are symptoms of nerve entrapment.

When a nerve is "pinched" or trapped between its surrounding tissues, the condition is nerve entrapment or nerve compression syndrome. Repetitive injuries, several diseases, and other medical conditions can lead to this physical condition. Several diseases are associated with nerve entrapment.

Keep reading to know what nerve entrapment is and what diseases are linked.

What is Nerve Entrapment?

Nerves in your body act as messengers of the brain. A part of this network, called the PNS (peripheral nervous system), relays information from the brain to your limbs (hands, legs, fingers, etc.)

A nerve entrapment or nerve compression occurs when the peripheral nerves are compressed. There are several types of nerve entrapment syndromes. The most common among them are:

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: This occurs when the median nerve in your wrist, which controls the motor functions of your forearms, gets compressed.
• Cubital Tunnel Syndrome: You feel an unusual sensation when you get hit on the funny bone. That is because of the ulnar nerve present in your elbow. Cubital tunnel syndrome occurs when the ulnar nerves get compressed or trapped.

The other types of nerve entrapment syndromes include:

• Pronator teres syndrome
• Radial tunnel syndrome
• Suprascapular nerve entrapment
• Thoracic outlet syndrome
• Meralgia paresthetica
• Peroneal nerve compression
• Pudendal nerve entrapment syndrome
• Sciatica
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
   

Which Diseases Can Cause Nerve Entrapment?

Numerous factors can cause nerve entrapment. The common reasons for this condition are:

• Accidents
• Spraining your knee, wrist, or ankle.
• Broken bones.
• Dislocated joints (elbow, knee, or shoulder)
• Women, often due to hormonal fluctuations that can lead to fluid retention and swelling within the carpal tunnel, are more prone to develop carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Pregnancy

Besides these, there are certain diseases which can cause nerve entrapment. They are as follows:

• Diabetes: Chronic high blood sugar levels can cause neurological issues, including nerve entrapment.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): RA causes swelling and pain in your joints. Inflamed joints are known to cause nerve compression syndrome.
• Hypothyroidism: Long-term, untreated hypothyroidism causes swollen tissues due to fluid retention. These tissues put pressure on the peripheral nerves, causing entrapment.
• Obesity: Excess body weight puts pressure on joints and soft tissues, narrowing the nerve path and resulting in nerve entrapment syndrome.
• Osteoarthritis: Bone conditions such as osteoarthritis can result in bone spurs (an overgrowth of bones). It can cause structural misalignments and chew away (wear) the cartilage in your joints, resulting in pressed nerves or nerve entrapment.
• Herniated Disc: A herniated disc compresses the nerve on the spine, resulting in symptoms such as numbness and tingling.
• Tumours and Cysts: Benign or cancerous tumours may pinch the nerves, causing nerve entrapment.

Underlying medical conditions, if left untreated, can have lifelong effects of nerve entrapment.

How is Nerve Entrapment Diagnosed?

With nerve entrapment or nerve compression syndrome, early diagnosis is crucial. Recognising any of the symptoms, you must contact a neurologist immediately. Step one of the diagnosis is understanding your medical history. Tests and imaging procedures will follow. These include:

• Blood tests to check for diabetes and hypothyroidism.
• Ultrasound to check for nerve compression and ligament damage.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan for detailed images showing tissues and bones compressing the nerves.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to detect nerve entrapment (compression) by damaged soft tissues.
• An EMG (electromyography) and nerve conduction study will be conductedto check the full neural functionality in the affected area.
• Spinal tap(lumbar puncture) to collect spinal fluid and check it for signs of infection.

What are the treatments for nerve entrapment?

Your doctor will recommend surgical or non-surgical treatments depending on the severity of the condition. The non-surgical methods include:

Lifestyle Changes: This includes losing weight, clean eating, and adopting ergonomic strategies while working from home (posture correction).

Physical Therapy (PT): PT can help improve mobility, flexibility, and range of motion.

Medications: NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen. Anti-seizure medications such as gabapentin (Neurontin and Horizant), which help calm irritated nerves. Corticosteroids, whether given orally or injected, will help reduce pain and swelling.

Home Remedies:

1. Apply ice packs to the affected area.
2. Topical cream application.
3. Taking breaks between tasks.
4. Wearing a brace or splint for support.

Surgery:

Surgery is the last resort, only when none of the above treatments work. Surgery includes:

1. Opening the nerve tunnel
2. Removal of cysts and tumours
3. Relocating healthy nerves to the affected area.

A minor tingling here and there might not seem like a serious sign. However, it is a signal from your body indicating a problem. For early diagnosis, it is vital to listen to your body, especially if you have an underlying medical condition. With the appropriate diagnosis and treatment, along with a healthy lifestyle and therapy, the prognosis for this condition can be favourable.

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