A trapped or compressed spinal nerve in the neck will usually cause pain radiating into the arm often accompanied by other sensations such as tingling, numbness or even weakness the arm or hand. Compressed nerves in the lower back can cause similar symptoms along the sciatic or femoral nerves into the legs and feet. Such nerve compressions are commonly the result prolapsed intervertebral discs or other degenerative changes in the spine. Severely compressed nerves in the lower back may cause a rare phenomenon known as "Cauda Equina Syndrome" whereby the nerves innervating the bladder, bowel and genitals stop working properly. Signs of Cauda Equine Syndrome usually include a combination of LOSS OF BLADDER OR BOWEL CONTROL, NUMBNESS OR TINGLING AROUND THE GENITAL AREA, LOSS OF SEXUAL FUNCTION AND PAIN AND WEAKNESS IN THE LEGS. Such sypmptoms require urgent assessment since if surgery is not performed quickly enough to release the pressure on these nerves permanent nerve damage may occur.
Other problems such as "trigger points" in the muscles of the spine, shoulder and hip girdle can mimic the pain and ache of a trapped spinal nerve. Unlike compressed spinal nerves, these types of "referred pain" can normally only be identified using sublte clinical tests and skilled palpation by a clinician experienced in trigger point therapy, such problems are often treatable with manual therapy including deep tissue massage, acupcunture and exercises.
