Nerve impingements are when a nerve or bundle of nerves is being compressed. There are many different causes of nerve impingement, and a lot of them are not caused by issues with fascia.
One example of a non-fascial nerve impingement is one that occurs due to bony stenosis (narrowing); this is particularly dangerous in the spine when the spinal cord or nerve roots become compressed by the crowding of bone growth. Other non-fascial nerve impingements include inflammation and external compression.
Nerve impingements will most often cause numbness, tingling, or weakness in a particular area of the body. Other symptoms of nerve impingement may include altered sensitivity, either increased or decreased, compared to normal touch sensation.
Common nerve impingements that may be caused or exacerbated by fascial ailments include:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: symptoms on the palm side of the thumb, index, and middle finger
- Cubital tunnel syndrome: symptoms in the pinky finger, ring finger, and the pinky side of the entire hand
- Radial nerve impingement: symptoms in the back of the upper arm, top of the forearm, or the back of the hand (thumb, index, and middle finger, only)
- Brachial plexus impingement: symptoms may present anywhere in the entire upper extremity in non-specific patterns
- Sciatica: symptoms down the back of the thigh, back and outer portion of the lower leg and foot
- Common peroneal nerve impingement: symptoms down the outer portion of the lower leg and foot
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome or posterior tibial nerve impingement: symptoms on the bottom of the foot in the big toe, 2nd and 3rd toes