Supersensitivity and Muscle Shortening

Treating Neuropathic Pain

Supersensitivity and muscle shortening cannot be operated on and "cut away". "Pain killers" and other analgesic pills only mask the pain. The goal of treatment is to release muscle shortening which presses on and irritates the nerve. Supersensitive areas can be desensitized and the persistent pull of shortened muscles released.

The Shortened Muscle Syndrome

An important factor in neuropathic pain is muscle shortening, caused by muscle spasm and contracture. Muscle shortening produces pain by pulling on tendons, straining them as well as distressing the joints they move. Muscle shortening also increases wear and tear and contributes to degenerative changes such as "tendonitis", and "osteoarthritis". These conditions are customarily regarded as "local" conditions and may not receive the appropriate diagnosis or treatment.

The Shortened Muscle

Involvement of the Spine

The most common cause of nerve irritation and neuropathic pain is "spondylosis", or degeneration in the spine, which can be the result of normal wear and tear. Spondylosis irritates the nerve root and leads to neuropathy and muscle shortening.

Spinal Pain

When muscles across a disc shorten, they compress it (A) and cause arthraigia in the facet joints (B).

Shortened back muscles compress the disc and impinge on the nerve root. The irritated root shortens muscles in both rami causing further irritation.