Clinical Presentation

The symptoms of nerve entrapment syndromes are dependent on the nerve involved, but some generalisation can be made.

The symptoms can be identified as irritative symptoms (pain, paresthesia), which affect sensory nerves and follow a temporal sequence. If these symptoms are not treated, ablative symptoms follow (numbness – sensory nerves, weakness and atrophy – motor nerves), and may be irreversible.

In some mixed sensory and motor nerves, for example the median nerve, the signs of sympathetic dystrophy may also feature in chronic cases. These symptoms include:

• Dry, thin, hairless skin
• Ridged, thickened, crackly nails
• Recurrent skin ulcerations