Do I have a pinched nerve?
The electrical sensation or ‘stuck area’ feeling caused by muscle contractures can make us believe we have nerve compression. We consult a specialist, they request an MRI, and we are told there is no problem with the spinal nerves and that the radiological changes observed are normal for our age. We continue with the physical therapist, begin a targeted training program, and the pain persists.
Could it be posture?
Posture has a significant influence, especially in sedentary jobs and if we have lost muscle mass with age (sarcopenia), or if we are not particularly athletic.
But could there be other factors that perpetuate muscle contractures?
Current neuroscience confirms that behind chronic pain in the cervical or lumbar spine, there may be a MALFUNCTION OF THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM.
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates the body’s INVOLUNTARY responses. It is the body’s ‘wiring’ system that connects the brain to the heart, lungs, digestive system, and muscles, and it is divided into two branches that work in a balanced way:
- the sympathetic nervous system, which is our ‘fight or flight’ system, prepares the body for action, increasing heart rate, blood pressure, producing glucose, and tensing muscles for action.
- the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes relaxation, body recovery, tissue repair, and can modulate pain; it is our ‘rest and digest’ system.
Practical example to understand it: if I see that I am missing the bus, my brain activates the sympathetic system so that my heart pumps faster, I breathe more rapidly, and my muscles prepare to run. When I get on the bus, the sensation of relief and relaxation I feel is my brain activating the parasympathetic system to return to normalcy.
And what does this have to do with back pain?
Hyperactivity of the sympathetic system, for example in a situation of stress, fear, or uncertainty, perpetuates pain primarily through two mechanisms:
- Excitability of nerve fibers, making the nervous system more sensitive to pain. Nerves behave like ‘cables’ in the body; if they are always working, they remain permanently connected and ready to continuously transmit pain signals.
- A pro-inflammatory state in the body, as continuous activation consumes energy, and this inflammation perpetuates pain, in addition to promoting a decrease in immunity and a predisposition to autoimmune diseases.
Conversely, the balance of the autonomic nervous system modulates the brain’s ability to control how intensely pain is perceived. That is, if the parasympathetic system functions correctly and balances the sympathetic system, pain pathways are more modulated, and the patient’s response to treatments is usually better.
What other symptoms are associated with autonomic system dysfunction?(*)
We may experience symptoms related to the digestive system (stomach pain, heavy digestion, abdominal bloating and gas, irritable bowel symptoms); others related to the brain (insomnia, brain fog, dizziness, symptoms of depression or anxiety). We may feel tachycardia (due to heart activation, which is ultimately a muscle), or chronic fatigue (due to muscle tiredness from contractures or lack of repair during nocturnal rest).
(*) In no way should these symptoms be considered directly derived from stress or autonomic dysregulation without conducting relevant studies and ruling out diseases.
How can I activate my parasympathetic system?(**)
- laugh and sing (the vibration of the vocal cords activates the vagus nerve, which passes through the neck)
- listen to music you enjoy
- practice relaxation techniques (yoga or meditation)
- perform controlled and slow breathing, such as in ‘diaphragmatic breathing’
- allow time between dinner and bedtime
- take cold water immersions or finish your shower with cold water
- give yourself neck self-massages
(*) This is an adjunctive therapy that does not replace conventional medical evaluation or treatments.
