Chiropractic and Pinched Nerves

The nerves that extend from your brain and spinal cord are essential for sending critical messages throughout your entire body. Nerves are microscopic, however they are vital extensions from the brain that reach out to the arms, legs, muscle and skin – sending nutrients and tiny electrical charges that are essential for functionality.

When these nerves are compressed or pressured by the surrounding tissues, the body sends a sharp shooting ‘pinching’ feeling as a warning. This is nothing to ignore! Essentially, this is a warning of a damaged and/or injured nerve. This nerve pressure may come from either the repetition of a certain body motion, or holding the body’s position for a long period of time. Other causes of pinched nerves may be: herniated disks (when a cervical disk slips out of place), degeneration of disk (spine degenerating due to age or other factors), and bony growths (bony growths in your neck due to arthritis or degenerative disk disease).

Other more generic causes for this painful ailment include: poor posture, poor sleeping habits, and lifting heavy objects …amongst others.

Nerves are extensively more vulnerable in ligaments and tendons where they travel through narrow spaces and have little soft tissue protecting them. Nerve compression in one part of the body may also cause symptoms in other areas and eventually lead to conditions such as: Peripheral neuropathy, Carpal tunnel Syndrome and Tennis elbow.

Why?

If a nerve gets “pinched”, the entire flow of the nerve stops and eventually may cause that nerve fiber to die. When enough fibers stop working, the skin may feel perpetually numb and muscles may stop contracting.

Therefore, it’s important to look out for initial symptoms that a nerve in your system is failing to function properly. Before that sharp, painful warning- symptoms may include a tingling, numbing or burning sensation running down the buttocks, legs and/or in the neck shoulders arms and fingers.

Pinched nerves are incapable of correctly conveying messages to the vital body organs from the brain. If you find yourself experiencing any of these symptoms to any capacity; do not hesitate to seek help. As we like to reiterate – there is no need to live a sedentary or limited life due to pain.

How we can help:

Chiropractic treatment has been proven to be most effective for this ailment, as it concentrates on spinal adjustments-and checking specifically for compression or constriction of nerves between vertebrae. Proper assessment of pinched nerves is essential before any effective treatment; chiropractic care ensures locating any stressed nerve(s). Finding and nudging the specific area where the spinal bones are not moving correctly will undoubtedly alleviate pinched nerves. This realignment of your spine will ease the pressure on the vulnerable nerves, allowing relief from pain and helping nerves function more effectively than before.

If you find yourself experience the warning signs, allow a chiropractic professional to catch and aid the stressed nerves – essential in preventing long term nerve damage.