Pinched nerves are a common source of neck pain, joint pain, leg pain and sciatic pain for lots of folks. They can stem from several causes, most commonly from overexerting the neck or back, different sports injuries, repetitive motions or impingements on the sciatic nerve.
They also tend to take place more regularly as we age, due to the natural wear and tear on our bodies, often causing chronic pain and lowering our quality of everyday life. Pinched nerves are a common injury for people involved in a busy life that involves lots of physical activity.
While the specific reason are vest, a pinched nerve commonly takes place when there’s a misalignment in vertebrae due to degeneration.
The end results can be discomfort, tingling feelings, shooting pains, reduced range of movement and muscle weakness in the arms or hands on one side of your body. In this short blog post, we review exactly what a pinched nerve is and how you can relieve it with chiropractic treatment.
Common Questions
A Pinched Nerve: What Is It?
A pinched nerve occurs when a nerve root comes to be compressed as it passes through a tight spot, typically in the neck, shoulder, or upper back. This compressing, whether in the primary spine or elsewhere, can bring about irritating nerves, tenderness, swelling, and discomfort in the area served by that nerve.
A number of activities have been proven to increase your risk of suffering from pinched nerves, including lengthy periods of fixed postures (like sitting at a desk for long periods), repetitive movements (such as golf or tennis) and activities that include repeated lifting (such as working in retail).
Pinched nerves can likewise be triggered by muscle spasms, direct injury to the spine, tight muscles, bone growths, or a herniated disc that irritates and can squeeze a nerve. Essentially, pinched nerves can happen in any part of the body where nerves travel through a confined place, such as in the neck, mid back or lower back.
What Are the Signs of a Pinched Nerve?
The signs and symptoms of a pinched nerve differ depending on the place of the nerve. The most typical place for a pinched nerve is the neck.
When the neck is compressed, the signs and symptoms can vary from moderate to severe and may include discomfort, weakness, tightness, headaches, or pins and needles in arms or hands. If the pinched nerve is in the shoulders or lower back, the symptoms can vary from mild to severe and might likewise involve discomfort, weakness, tightness, or feeling numb.
These locations are the most vulnerable to pinched nerves. If you experience any of these symptoms, your doctor or therapist may wish to examine you to figure out if a pinched nerve is the cause.
How Does Chiropractic Therapy Deal With Pinched Nerves?
Chiropractic therapy is an approach to treatment that aims to identify the cause of the pinched nerve and provide treatment to help resolve the associated symptoms.
This can be accomplished in a variety of assorted ways, but most typically with manual therapy, personalized exercises, back control, modifications, gentle adjustments and mobilization. Reduced pain and restored range of motion are just a few of the effects of adjustments you can expect.
Spinal adjustment is a hands-on or mechanical mobilization of a joint that can help relieve pressure on the nerve. Mobilizations are passive movements applied to a joint that are normally done with the hands at various degrees of pressure, while manual therapy techniques are a more gentle and measured motion utilized to encourage gentle movement to the joint and surrounding tissues.
Depending upon your particular circumstance and your degrees of pain, your Milton chiropractor might use a blend of these approaches.
There are other treatment options for pinched nerves, such as:
- Over the counter painkillers: If you have a moderate case of a pinched nerve, over the counter painkillers may be a beneficial first step to minimize any discomfort you’re feeling.
- Heat/cold packs: Delivering heat or cold packs to the affected area can improve swelling and pain, especially if the pinched nerve is in your neck.
- Active Movement: Mild stretching can really help increase flexibility, stretch those tight muscles, and help you to manage the pain of a pinched nerve. Flexing is vital when taking care of a pinched nerve, not just because it can help with overall flexibility but additionally since it may help you discover the source of your discomfort.
Conclusion
There’s no question that pinched nerves can be very painful and incapacitating. Thankfully, there are treatments in long-term chiropractic care that can really help relieve your pain and get you back on your feet.
If you suspect you may have a pinched nerve, the smartest thing you can do keep a running journal of the things you do that directly cause you pain and see a physician or therapist for a full assessment. The earlier you get treatment, the quicker you can get back to living your life free from pain.
Give Valeo Physiotherapy a call right away and we can schedule easing your pinched nerve pain today. Now scheduling new clients!
