For subscribers
When spinal nerves get compressed: Retired accountant ‘had to crawl on all fours to get to the loo’
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Longstanding discomfort from pinched nerves can flare up overnight.
PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO
Follow topic:
- Spinal nerve compression can cause debilitating pain, significantly impacting mobility and independence.
- Spine issues are common in Singapore due to desk jobs, ageing population and high-impact activities. Treatments range from physiotherapy to surgery.
- Minimally invasive spine surgery, including endoscopic techniques, offers quicker recovery, less pain and lower infection risk compared with traditional methods, benefiting older patients.
AI generated
SINGAPORE – Pinched spinal nerves can manifest as discomfort for a long time before suddenly incapacitating active people.
Take, for example, Mrs Jess O’Reilly, who had a niggling ache in her lower back for years. It did not stop her from enjoying high-intensity exercise. The 38-year-old thought the pain came from tight glute muscles and addressed it through deep tissue massage or physiotherapy. In 2025, she did the Tokyo Marathon in March and fitness competition Hyrox Singapore in June.
