Peripheral Nerve Injuries

Peripheral nerve injuries can be life-altering, affecting movement, sensation, and quality of life.

Peripheral Nerve Injury Treatment

Helping You Get Back to Normal Life

A peripheral nerve injury can be life-changing, leaving you with weakness, loss of function, or pain that disrupts your daily life. Our specialist physiotherapy team is here to guide you every step of the way, with expert rehabilitation designed to help you heal, rebuild strength, and return to doing the things you love. We support people with peripheral nerve injuries across Hertfordshire, Essex, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, North London, and East London, with compassionate and professional rehabilitation tailored to your needs.

Your journey to recovery begins with a thorough assessment, where we will explore the extent of your nerve injury and use advanced technology to measure muscle activity and monitor nerve recovery. From there, we design a personalised rehab plan that may include education, post-surgical treatment, electrical muscle stimulation, and progressive strengthening. Our goal is simple: to give you the best chance of recovery, reduce uncertainty, and help you get your confidence, and your life, back.

Understanding Nerve Injury

Nerve Injury Recovery is Possible

Peripheral nerve injuries occur when nerves outside the brain and spinal cord (the peripheral nervous system) are damaged due to trauma, surgery, compression, or disease. These injuries can lead to muscle weakness, altered sensation, or complete loss of function in the affected area.

The severity of the injury can vary:

Neuropraxia – a temporary block with full recovery expected.
Axonotmesis – damage to the nerve fibres with a chance of regrowth.
Neurotmesis – complete severance, often requiring surgical repair and post-surgical rehabilitation.

Many people with peripheral nerve injuries notice changes such as tingling, numbness, or painful burning sensations. You may also experience muscle weakness, difficulty moving, or even signs of muscle wasting if the injury has been present for some time. These symptoms can be worrying, but with the right treatment and support, recovery and improvement are possible.

How Physiotherapy Helps with Peripheral Nerve Injuries

Specialist Rehabilitation for Nerve injuries

At TraumaPhysio, our specialist approach to peripheral nerve injury rehabilitation guides you through every stage of recovery. In the early phase, we focus on protection and optimisation – using positioning, splinting, and advice on safe movement to support healing. We also use advanced technologies such as electrical stimulation to promote nerve regeneration and keep muscles active even when nerve signals are weak. Surface EMG assessments allow us to track muscle activity in real time, giving you clear feedback on your progress and helping us tailor treatment. As nerves begin to recover, therapy moves into motor re-education and sensory retraining. Finally, we progress into strengthening and functional rehabilitation to rebuild control, balance, and confidence for everyday activities. Throughout your rehabilitation, we work closely with neurologists, surgeons, and orthotists to ensure you receive seamless, multidisciplinary care.

Why TraumaPhysio?

Specialist Knowledge. Real Results

TraumaPhysio clinicians bring together experience from major trauma centres, neurorehabilitation units, and community-based rehabilitation. Our team have postgraduate training in complex trauma and rehabilitation. We understand the emotional and physical toll of nerve injuries and work holistically to restore as much function and confidence as possible.

We’ve supported people recovering from:

Brachial plexus injuries
Peroneal nerve palsy
Radial and ulnar nerve trauma
Nerve injuries post-surgery or fracture
Crush and traction injuries

Appointments are available at our locations across North London, East London, and surrounding counties, or via video for remote support.

Working with case managers

Nerve Injury Rehabilitation Within a Case Managed Package

Peripheral nerve injuries are common in catastrophic injury claims, and they are frequently the element that determines long term function. Recovery is measured in months rather than weeks, which makes accurate baseline measurement and consistent reporting particularly important. Surface EMG gives us an objective record of muscle activity from the outset, so progress can be evidenced rather than described.

We accept instructions for initial needs assessments and provide quantified recommendations, and we report at intervals that suit the claim. Our case managers page covers the process, and our team page sets out the clinicians who would be involved.

Peripheral Nerve Injury FAQs

Recovery Can Be Slow, We Can Help

Can physiotherapy help even if I have no movement yet?

Yes. Early rehab can prevent complications and preserve muscle health while waiting for nerve regeneration. We use technology such as surface EMG to give you feedback on muscle contractions and denervated electrical muscle stimulation to promote regeneration and support strength training.

How long do nerves take to recover?

Peripheral nerves regenerate slowly – often 1mm per day – depending on the injury and your overall health. Recovery can take months or even longer but is very specific to the person, injury characteristics and rehab provided.

Is electrical stimulation safe?

When used appropriately, electrical stimulation is safe and often beneficial. We assess suitability case by case and are experienced in making recommendations and creating effective programmes.

What does surface EMG involve?

It’s a painless test using small skin electrodes to read muscle activity. It helps us measure early nerve signals and track recovery. We also use it to give clients feedback in the early stages of strengthening.

Do you treat children with nerve injuries?

Our adult service is most suitable for ages 16+. For younger children, we recommend referral to our PaedsPhysio service.

Will I need surgery for my nerve injury?

That depends on the type of injury. A nerve that is compressed or bruised often recovers without an operation, whereas a nerve that has been completely divided usually needs surgical repair before rehabilitation can achieve much. We work alongside surgeons rather than instead of them, and we will tell you plainly if we think a surgical opinion is needed.

What can I do while I am waiting for the nerve to recover?

Quite a lot. Keeping joints mobile, preventing contractures, protecting skin that has lost sensation and maintaining the muscle that is still working all make a difference to how much function you regain once the nerve does recover. Waiting passively tends to cost people function that was recoverable.

Can you help with foot drop?

Yes. Foot drop following a peroneal nerve injury is one of the presentations we see most often. Treatment can involve electrical stimulation, splinting or orthotic referral, and gait retraining, and it usually sits alongside wider functional rehabilitation as walking improves.

Do you treat nerve injuries that happened alongside a fracture?

Frequently. Nerve damage often accompanies a significant fracture or dislocation, and treating one without the other slows recovery. Where that is the case, this service runs alongside our polytrauma physiotherapy.

Can a case manager instruct you directly?

Yes. We take instructions from case managers and solicitors, including initial needs assessments and costed recommendations. Our case managers page explains how that works.

Where treatment takes place

Treatment at Home, in the Community or in Clinic

Nerve injury rehabilitation is long, and consistency matters more than intensity. Because of that, most of our clients are seen at home or in their own community rather than travelling to appointments they will need to repeat for months. Our community service covers how that works.

Where a client is ready for gym based strengthening and functional work, we can complete this at a gym local to the client, or within our clinic near Chelmsford which offers a private treatment room, a full gym, movement analysis with force plate technology and indoor sports courts, with free parking on site. Video appointments remain available where travel is impractical.

Testimonials

Why people love Trauma Physio

Appart from being an outstanding physio, Jason totaly understands how help and encouragement with everyday tasks or goals can transform your life.

After an extremely traumatic event where I sustained life changing injuries I was introduced to Jason who became not just my physiotherapist but also my confidant and therapist! And this is what makes this place and the people that work there so special!

The empathy and understanding was like nothing I had experienced before, whilst Jason has not experienced such injuries himself, his skill, understanding and compassion meant that he could support me not just physically but mentally too...

Working with my Physio Jason has been amazing, his knowledge and understanding has meant that I have made significant progress in my recovery. His understanding and approachability is a massive factor as to why I have progressed so well. I would recommend to anyone.

I have had Jason helping me for the last 3/4 months after I had a bad cycling accident leaving me with serious Leg Hip and Shoulder injury’s. Jason is very professional supportive and caring. We have made good progress together but still have a long way to go.
M. Thomas

Jason is one of my favourite physios I've worked with. His knowledge of how best to achieve patient goals is second to none. He would be my first choice if I were to recommend him to a family member. Friendly demeanor, maticulas with his work and general a great guy.

Jason was my physiotherapist after a right leg amputation due to an accident. Jason made me feel at ease from the very first session and this made the whole rehabilitation experience a whole lot easier. Jason quickly put together a workout program for me which had me back up and walking with a near natural walking gate in no time. With his help I lost the slight limp I had and even progressed onto jogging. I can not recommend Jason enough, he will strive to achieve what ever goals you wish to achieve and he will remain my physio for any future sessions I may require.

Jason treated me for chronic pain associated with a neck condition over the course of a year. A combination of massage, exercises and stretching has vastly improved my daily life. Professional and talented, highly recommended physio.

I am an elective amputee and had Jason as my physio in the build up and directly after my surgery. Having him as a physio is one of the biggest reasons I am where I am now. His knowledge and passion really helped me get back to my life. I am playing football and doing everything I did before. Can’t recommend him enough.
Matt R

Helen worked with my 88 year old Mum following her knee replacement. I was very very impressed. Personable, knowledgeable, supportive, she got my Mum full mobilised and back playing bowls. She had her operation in November 2018 and was she was back playing bowls in January 2019. My Mum has now had a refurbishment of her replacement hip and I have no hesitation in going back to her and recommending her to others.

An inner ear problem last July led to neck issues causing nausea, dizziness, and vision problems. In February, I came to Physio4 You in despair. Rachel reassured me the vestibular issue was resolved, and Helen has been amazing for my neck treatment. Calm, friendly, and professional, she explained the problem and treatment plan clearly. I’ve seen vast improvement and always leave feeling positive. Highly recommend their services.

Excellent professional service! Helen really helped me with my injury. I would use her services again and recommend to family and friends!

Helen is a great physiotherapist! She thorough, extremely knowledgeable and very kind. Despite being busy, I never felt rushed. If the need arises I will definitely go to her again.

Helen is a great physio with fantastic technical knowledge. She’s also a lovely person which makes sessions really enjoyable. Thanks for the help Helen! 🙂