Physicians' Back Institute
Nerve Pain Doctors & Specialist Care
San Francisco
Understanding Nerve Pain: Looking Beyond the Nerve
Identifying the Root Cause
Many people assume that pain, numbness, tingling, burning or weakness automatically means there is “a pinched nerve.” While this is sometimes true, nerve symptoms are often far more complex. At Physicians’ Back Institute, we believe that successful treatment begins by identifying why a nerve has become irritated rather than simply treating the symptoms it produces.
The nervous system functions as the body’s communication network. Nerves carry information from the brain and spinal cord to muscles, joints, skin and internal organs. When a nerve is compressed, stretched, inflamed or otherwise irritated, it may produce symptoms anywhere along its course. A problem in the neck can cause pain radiating into the arm, while a disorder in the lower back may create symptoms that travel into the hip, leg or foot.
We Begin by Listening
One of the greatest challenges in medicine is determining exactly where nerve symptoms originate. An MRI may show a disc bulge or arthritis, but these findings do not always explain a patient’s pain. Many people have significant structural changes on imaging and no symptoms at all, while others experience severe pain with relatively minor imaging abnormalities. For this reason, imaging studies are only one part of the diagnostic process.
Our evaluation begins by listening carefully to the patient’s history. We want to understand when symptoms began and how they started; what activities make them better or worse, and how they affect daily function. This is followed by a comprehensive physical examination that evaluates posture, movement, muscle strength, reflexes, sensation, joint mobility and the relationships between different regions of the body.
Our Approach to Nerve Pain
As board-certified medical doctors with extensive training in osteopathy, we also perform a detailed hands-on musculoskeletal examination. Rather than focusing only on the area where symptoms are felt, we evaluate the entire body through the osteopathic lens. Restrictions in the spine, pelvis, ribs, or surrounding soft tissues may alter normal mechanics and contribute to nerve irritation in ways that are not apparent on imaging studies.
Treatment is directed toward correcting the underlying mechanical and functional problems whenever possible. Depending on the diagnosis, recommendations may include osteopathic manual treatment, therapeutic exercise, posture and ergonomic correction, rehabilitation, medication, proliferative regenerative injections when appropriate, or referral for additional testing or consultation. Our goal is always to restore normal function while minimizing the need for invasive procedures.
Nerve pain can be frustrating because symptoms often extend beyond the location of the actual problem. Successful treatment requires more than identifying where the pain is felt—it requires understanding why the nervous system has become irritated in the first place.
At Physicians’ Back Institute, we believe that careful diagnosis remains the most important step in treating nerve disorders. By combining traditional medical evaluation with extensive postgraduate training in osteopathy, we strive to identify the true source of symptoms and develop an individualized treatment plan that helps patients return to comfortable, active lives.