Mononeuritis, aka Mononeuropathy (nerve entrapments)

Impingement, or compression can occur on a single nerve after it exits the spine, known as Peripheral neuritis or Peripheral Neuropathy.  Most commonly they are only irritated as the inflammation reduces the space that the nerves may travel through certain tunnels, but can sometimes be ablative, or damaged.  This can occur due to postural changes of limbs, joing angulation, trauma, infection, muscle imbalance, fascial restriction, muscle tightness/spasm, inflammation or cysts amongst others.  Typically the patient will notice pain or parasethesias-sensation change (tingling, numbness, burning) occuring in one of their extremities in a traceable pattern.  It is important to differentially diagnose between the aforementioned as to determine the most appropriate treatment.

Common symptoms:

• Burning
• Tingling
• Numbness
• Pain
• Traceable pattern
• Weakness or Atrophy with absent or reduced reflexes (more severe and usually indicates ablative lesions)

Common conditions:

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome  (entrapment of median nerve at wrist)
• Cubital tunnel Syndrome (entrapment of ulnar nerve at elbow)
• Peroneal Neuropathy (entrapment at outside of the knee)
• Meralgia Parasthetica (entrapment of the Lateral Femoral Cuteanous nerve at the anterior hip)
• Posterior Interosseous Nerve Syndrome (pain in the medial forearm, or flexor compartment)
• Suprascapular nerve entrapment (pain in the upper posterior shoulder blade region with weakness during the start of abduction and external rotation only-must be differentiated between C5 radiculopathy)
• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome (entrapment behind the medial malleolus, or inner ankle joint)- uncommo
• Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (entrapment of the lower trunk of the Brachial Plexus at the area behind the clavicle, or collar bone)