An Olympic Fighter Manages Peripheral Nerve Entrapment and Nerve Damage

An injury can be a dramatically life changing experience, especially if it keeps you from continuing in your profession. Even after surgeries to correct the damage, patients often suffer from the lasting effects of nerve damage. Can you imagine being so sensitive that even touching your leg sends waves of pain shooting up your leg? 

I'd like to share Brian's story with you. He used to compete as an Olympic fighter until he suffered a blow during a match that crushed the vertebrae in his spine and tore the labrum of his right hip. Here's his experience in his own words:

"Hi, Im Brian Carlson, I’ve been using the Rezzimax now since 2020.

I used to be an Olympic fighter. I had an injury in a fight. I tore the labrum out of my right hip and crushed the vertebrae in my spine, and it created some nerve damage, which went down into my right leg.

After we fixed the vertebrae, the nerve damage stayed in my leg, I couldn't lift my foot off the ground. I was pain all the time.

Sharik Peck got us the Rezzimax device, and we developed a treatment process to get the nerves to kind of communicate. And then there was a painful process of using the blade on the edge of the Rezzimax to scrape up against that nerve damage, which anybody who has nerve damage knows that just doing that with your hand is one of the most painful things you can go through, let alone using a hard plastic blade to just gouge it. It was some of the worst pain I've ever been through.

But here I am, not even two and a half, two years later. I can lift toe off the ground, I can go up on my toes. I have full mobility, and almost zero radiating nerve pain. The Rezzimax was a huge device (in my recovery) so thanks, Sharik!"

Peripheral Nerve Entrapment- What is It? 

Our bodies are an amazing feat of engineering, consisting of systems of nerves, veins, arteries, tissues and organs all intertwined throughout a skeletal frame. It's incredible that so many vital systems can fit so compactly in such tight spaces and perform their intended functions every day. It's kind of like how all of the components of cellular phones are (and continue to) efficiently be organized in an easy to carry package.

But what happens when wear and tear happens on your phone? The spring and rubber parts of a button might stop working after so many presses. Dropping your device on the ground can physically change the structure and interaction of parts inside, affecting its function.

Peripheral nerve entrapment (PNE) is a condition that's similar to our phone example- it occurs when a nerve is compressed or pinched, often by surrounding tissues such as muscles, tendons, or bones. This can lead to a range of symptoms, including pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the affected area.

How Does PNE Happen?

There can be several avenues that lead to the onset of peripheral nerve entrapment. Some of the most common that we see are:

• Repetitive Motions: Engaging in repetitive activities, such as typing or using hand tools, can lead to conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, where the median nerve in the wrist becomes compressed.
• Injury: Trauma or injury to a specific area can cause swelling or inflammation, leading to nerve compression.
• Anatomical Abnormalities: Some individuals may have anatomical variations that predispose them to nerve entrapment, such as an unusually narrow carpal tunnel.
• Medical Conditions: Diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and thyroid disorders can increase the risk of peripheral nerve entrapment due to inflammation or changes in tissue structure.

What to Expect with PNE

PNE is more of a general condition, meaning that it can be used to describe injury to a whole lot of different parts of the body. Because of this broad application, symptoms might be different depending on location and type of injury. Some of the most common symptoms to look out for are:

• Pain: Sharp, burning, or aching pain in the affected area.
• Numbness and Tingling: A sensation of "pins and needles" or loss of sensation, often in the fingers, toes, or other extremities.
• Weakness: Difficulty with fine motor skills or a feeling of weakness in the muscles controlled by the affected nerve.
• Muscle Atrophy: In severe cases, prolonged nerve compression can lead to muscle wasting or atrophy.

What Can We Do to Treat PNE?

The medical world is continually improving it understanding and efficacy in treating PNE and other types of nerve damage. Currently, you might expect to be offered some of the following options from your doctor or therapist:

• Rest and Immobilization: Give you body a chance to rest and recover by avoiding activities that exacerbate symptoms. Using splints or braces to immobilize the affected area can also be a great way to help reduce nerve compression.
• Physical Therapy: Opposite of resting, stretching and strengthening exercises can help to grow muscles to better support damaged areas and alleviate pressure on the nerve, which can improve overall function. Including the Rezzimax Tuner as part of your therapy regimen can greatly improve your outcomes. 
• Medications: Anti-inflammatory medications or corticosteroid injections can reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
• Surgical Intervention: Usually as a last resort when other treatments fail, surgery may be necessary to release the compressed nerve.

What Does My Future Hold for Me After My Injury?

This is the tough question- every person and injury can have a different outcome. I CAN say that it largely depends on the severity of the condition and the timeliness of treatment. Unlike the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system has the potential to heal and regenerate, although it's a slow process.

• Early Diagnosis and Treatment: When nerve entrapment is diagnosed and treated early, it usually ends up with a more favorable outcome. Most patients will experience significant symptom relief and a return to normal function within weeks to months.
• Chronic or Severe Cases: In cases where nerve compression has been prolonged or severe, recovery may take longer, and some patients may have persistent symptoms such as chronic pain or muscle weakness. There's still hope for those of you who are in this category- treatment can still be effective at preventing further deterioration and improving quality of life.
• Post-Surgical Outcomes: Surgical intervention often results in good outcomes, especially if it can be done before permanent nerve damage occurs. Most patients report a reduction in symptoms and an improvement in function post-surgery.

Ideas on How to Avoid Peripheral Nerve Entrapment

Sometimes injuries just can't be avoided, but there are some things we can do to reduce our chances of nerve damage:

• Ergonomic Adjustments: How is your workspace setup? Doing your own ergonomic assessment can help prevent repetitive strain injuries.
• Regular Breaks: Studies have shown that taking frequent breaks during repetitive activities can reduce the risk of nerve compression and also increase productivity. Try taking a ten minute break every hour. 
• Stretching and Strengthening Exercises: A lot of our health conditions can be managed through diet and exercise. Starting your day with Yoga or other exercises that promote flexibility and strength can greatly improve your nerve health. 
• Regular Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM): Using the Rezzimax Tuner a few times per week on areas of concern can stimulate blood flow and muscle tone, greatly improving your body's ability to prevent potential injuries. 

If you're someone who is suffering from nerve damage, I hope that Brian's story and some of the things I've shared might be helpful for you in your recovery journey. I'd love to send a Tuner to you so that you can try it out. Head over to our store and get one coming in the mail, then check out our Rezzipes to learn some great ways to use it for specific areas and conditions. I think you'll really be amazed at what our little Tuner can do!