Diagnosing Nerve Pain in Vacaville

The common pain that we all feel is usually a result of an injury or illness. In the case of nerve pain in Vacaville, the nervous system mistakenly transmits signals to the brain without any trigger. This is caused by a disease or damage to the nervous system, which includes several chronic conditions and up to 8% of the population are experiencing it.

Since the symptoms can come and go and there are no obvious injuries linked to them, it can be difficult to diagnose nerve pain. People who suffer from it describe the pain similar to an electric shock, pins, and needles or feeling freezing cold or burning heat.

Because it can be difficult to narrow down the cause, a doctor will perform a full physical examination such as testing your muscle strength, reflex assessment, and checking your sensitivity to touch and pinpricks. An important consideration when diagnosing neuropathic pain is listening to how the patient describes the pain as well as how frequently, where it happens, on what occasions, and what it feels like.

Once nerve pain is suspected, the doctor will follow it up with a couple of other tests.

Diagnosis of Nerve Pain in VACAVILLE

These are the following tests that you may undergo once nerve pain is suspected as the main culprit:

• High-Resolution Ultrasound: This imaging test utilizes high-frequency sound waves to create images of your body's structure. It can help diagnose nerve compression syndromes like carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Electromyography (EMG): During an EMG, the doctor will insert a needle electrode into your skin then into various muscles. This test evaluates your muscles' electrical activity when they contract and when they're at rest. It will show if there is damage to the nerves that leads to the muscle.
• Nerve Conduction Study: This is a test that measures electrical nerve impulses and functioning in your nerves and muscles with the use of electrodes that's placed on your skin. It will measure the electrical impulses in your nerve signals when a small amount of current passes through the nerve.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): It is a test that utilizes a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed views of the body in multiple planes. If the doctor suspects nerve root compression, then this test will most likely be used.

Treatment

It is often recommended that the affected area of a pinched nerve should be well-rested. Your doctor will ask you to stop doing any activities that could aggravate or cause compression.

Depending on where the pinched nerve is located, you may be required to use a brace or splint to immobilize the area. When you have carpal tunnel syndrome, your doctor will recommend that you wear a splint during the day and even at night since wrists flex and extend during sleep.

• Physical Therapy: A physical therapist will teach you exercises that could stretch and strengthen the muscles in the affected area to reduce the pressure on the nerve. He or she may even suggest modifications to activities that could aggravate the nerve.
• Medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Motrin IB, Advil, and many others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), can provide pain relief.
• Surgery: If there is no improvement to the pinched nerve after weeks or months using conservative treatments, your doctor may recommend surgery as a last resort to reduce pressure on the nerves. The type of surgery will vary depending on where the pinched nerve is located. Surgery may suggest the removal of bone spurs or a part of a herniated disk in the spine.

If ever you are in Vacaville and want to get a diagnosis for your pain, then look no further because Dr. Alex Tam of Absolute Family Chiropractic can help you with that. Just dial (707) 474-5688 and set an appointment with their clinic today!