Therapy of a trapped nerve | Pinched nerve on the chest

Therapy of a trapped nerve

The treatment of a trapped nerve in the thoracic spine has different approaches. If one assumes that a displaced vertebral body is the cause of the entrapment, the vertebral body should be repositioned. This is often performed by osteopaths or chiropractors.

A jerky dislocation releases the blockage in the vertebral joint and the nerve is freed from its incarceration. Particularly in the case of nerves that are trapped in the area of the ribcage, a stretching of the ribcage can also cause the nerve to slip back into place. For causes such as muscular tension and poor posture, therapeutic procedures such as massage and application of heat are indicated.

Relaxation procedures can also correct the incorrect posture. Although its mode of action is not yet fully understood, acupuncture also has a relaxing effect on many patients. In the long term, the back muscles should be strengthened first through controlled physiotherapy, and later through self-exercises (for example, on strength machines or through yoga). In rare cases, such as fractures of the vertebral body or occasionally herniated discs, surgery on the spine is necessary.

Diagnosis of a pinched nerve

The most important step in the diagnosis of a trapped nerve in the thoracic/ thoracic spine is the medical history, i.e. the conversation in which the person concerned reports his or her symptoms. Typically, terms such as “severe pain“, “that came suddenly”, “that was such a wrong movement”, etc. are used.

During the physical examination, pain-related restrictions in movement become apparent. Paralysis and feelings of numbness can also sometimes be observed. The functional limitation of the affected nerve can be objectified by measuring the nerve conduction velocity. To exclude causes such as a herniated disc or vertebral body fractures, an X-ray, CT or MRI is often performed.

Duration of a pinched nerve

The duration of a trapped nerve at the thoracic/chest spine depends strongly on the cause. If sudden movements and blocked joints are the cause, this can usually be remedied quickly so that the pain disappears after a few hours or days. Bad posture, missing back muscles, vertebral body fractures and herniated discs, on the other hand, often show a protracted course.

It usually takes about a year until a herniated disc is completely healed. Also the controlled muscle build-up usually takes several months until it is completely satisfactory. In addition, a whole life long must be paid attention to maintaining the muscles. Without such muscle exercises, the back pain due to a pinched nerve can become chronic and last throughout the entire life of the person affected. More information can be found in our article Duration of a trapped nerve