Have you ever accidentally contorted your body in a way that resulted in a sharp pain that decreased mobility in your neck or arm? If so, you might have experienced a pinched nerve. Pinched nerves can occur anywhere along the spine, including the upper, mid, and lower back. They can even happen in any joint of your body. When ample pressure is applied to a nerve by the surrounding tissues, bones, cartilage, muscles, or tendons, a pinched nerve is formed. This pressure intervenes with the nerve’s normal function, causing sharp pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness. Our practice knows all about the dreaded pinched nerve and how painful it is doing the simplest tasks. Sometimes the nerve can move back into place naturally. However, if the pinched nerve is severe enough, you will need spinal adjustments to correct it. In some cases, surgery may even be necessary to relieve pinched nerve pain.
Symptoms of a pinched nerve include:
- Lower back pain
- Numbness, tingling, or burning sensation in your arms, legs, fingers, or toes and which may radiate outward
- Pain radiating along your spine
- Severe headaches or migraines
- A tingling or pins and needles sensation called paresthesia
- Pain that shoots down your arm or leg
- A feeling that your foot or hand has “fallen asleep”
- Neck pain
- Muscle weakness in the affected area
A pinched nerve can be caused by subluxation, disc degeneration, osteoarthritis, or disc herniation. These are silent afflictions in their beginning stages, which is why it’s important to see a chiropractor regularly. An experienced chiropractor will realign your spine in an effort to correct your pinched nerve, but also prevent one from happening again in the future. A pinched nerve that only lasts a short time will usually present no permanent damage. Once the pressure on the nerve is relieved, nerve function will return to normal. However, constant pressure on the nerve will ultimately cause chronic pain and permanent nerve damage.
Other causes of a pinched nerve include:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- An injury
- Rheumatoid or wrist arthritis
- Stress from repetitive activities
- Obesity
It is recommended that you come in for a visit with us if your pinched nerve is not resolved within several days of its beginning, especially if over-the-counter medications are also not working. Make an appointment today and we will get you started on a treatment plan unique to your needs!