How Physical Therapists Diagnose & Treat Nerve Pain

Have you ever felt tingling sensations, burning pain, or unexplained muscle weakness? These types of symptoms can be frustrating, especially when you don’t know what’s causing them. What many people don’t realize is that these issues often point to problems with your nerves. And even more people don’t know that expert physical therapists can evaluate and treat nerve pain at the source.

At Bay Area Physical Therapy, we use advanced tools and hands-on expertise to identify what’s going on in your nervous system and create a treatment plan that restores comfort, strength, and mobility. Let’s take a closer look at what causes nerve pain, how we diagnose it, and how physical therapy can help you feel better and move better.

What Causes Nerve Pain or Muscle Weakness?

Nerve pain and muscle weakness can be caused by a number of conditions that affect how your nerves function. When nerves are compressed, irritated, or damaged, they can’t send clear signals to your muscles—and that’s when problems start to show up.

Here are a few common causes:

  • Neuropathy (Peripheral Neuropathy): This refers to damage or dysfunction of the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. It often causes burning, tingling, or numbness, especially in the hands and feet.
  • Sciatica: This condition is caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back down through your hips and each leg. It can cause sharp or radiating pain, along with weakness in the leg.
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: When the median nerve gets compressed at the wrist, it can lead to numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hand and fingers.
  • Pinched Nerves: A pinched nerve can occur in many parts of the body, often as a result of inflammation, poor posture, or injury. This can lead to localized pain as well as radiating symptoms.

Signs That Point to Nerve Involvement

How can you tell if your symptoms might be nerve-related? Here are some common signs we look for during an evaluation:

  • Tingling or “pins and needles” sensations
  • Numbness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet
  • Burning or shooting pain
  • Muscle weakness or loss of coordination

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to get evaluated. Identifying the source of the problem early can make treatment more effective and help prevent long-term damage.

How PTs Use Diagnostic Tests Like EMG and Nerve Conduction Studies

At Bay Area Physical Therapy, we use specialized tools to help us understand exactly what’s happening with your nerves. Two of the most valuable diagnostic tests we use are nerve conduction studies (NCS) and electromyography (EMG).

Nerve conduction studies measure how fast and how well electrical signals travel through your nerves. Electromyography looks at how your muscles respond to those signals and helps identify whether a nerve or muscle disorder is present.

For example, if you have numbness and weakness in your hand, these tests can help us determine whether it’s coming from a compressed nerve in your neck or something more localized like carpal tunnel. That information is incredibly valuable in making sure we target the right problem.

How Results Shape Your Treatment Plan

Once we have a clear diagnosis, we use those results to design a treatment plan to address it. For example, if we find that the issue is coming from nerve compression in the spine, we may focus on improving posture, core strength, and spinal mobility. If the problem is localized, such as with carpal tunnel, we might use manual therapy or other exercises to relieve the pressure and restore normal function.

In many cases, we combine manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and modalities like deep tissue laser therapy to reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and restore nerve function. Your plan is always personalized to address the root cause of your symptoms and make sure your body is healing properly.

Reach Out to Bay Area Physical Therapy for Expert Care

Nerve pain doesn’t have to be a mystery or a lifelong struggle. Our team at Bay Area Physical Therapy is here to help you understand the root cause of your symptoms and create a clear path toward recovery. Call us today at (925) 284-3840 to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward feeling better.

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