Do I Have a Pinched Nerve?
Are you experiencing numbness or tingling in your arms, hands, legs, or feet? Is it accompanied by radiating pain into those areas? If so, you may be dealing with a pinched nerve. This can be uncomfortable and affect your quality of life. Fortunately, understanding the causes and symptoms of a pinched nerve can help ensure that you seek the right treatment to provide relief. In this blog post, we will discuss what qualifies as a pinched nerve and give advice on how to get proper care from a chiropractor.
Need to make an appointment? Call (517) 781-4884 or click here.
What is a pinched nerve and what are the symptoms?
Are you experiencing pain or discomfort in your neck, shoulder, arm, hand, or fingers? It could be a sign of a pinched nerve. A pinched nerve is caused when surrounding tissues such as muscles and ligaments apply too much pressure on the nerves leading to muscle weakness and sensations like tingling and numbness. Understanding the symptoms can help determine if this condition may require medical attention.
What causes a pinched nerve and how can it be prevented?
No one wants to find themselves in a painful pinch! A pinched nerve is caused by compression, depriving it of the necessary space for functioning correctly. To help keep your nerves at ease and healthy habits intact, make sure you:
- practice good posture when sitting or standing
- stay active with exercise that’s tailored to your abilities and needs
- pay attention to body mechanics during everyday activities like lifting heavy objects
- stretch regularly throughout the day – short bouts are better than longer ones because they reduce fatigue on the muscles surrounding pressure points where nerves reside.
How is a pinched nerve treated and what are the possible complications?
Chiropractic adjustments are the main method used to treat a pinched nerve. Chiropractors identify the impacted nerve and use spinal manipulation to remove the compression altogether, relieving not only symptoms but the injury or issue itself. Most often, a bone, joint, or muscle is to blame for pinched nerve pain when they become misaligned or moved from their natural position.
We will often incorporate aspects of physical therapy to strengthen any impacted muscles, and you may be asked to continue gentle exercises at home along with your treatment in the office.
Depending on the cause of your injury, you may also be counseled on lifestyle changes such as diet or exercise that can help speed up the healing process.
When should you see a Chiropractor about a pinched nerve and how will they diagnose it?
If you have ever had a pinched nerve or any type of chronic pain, you know it can impact your life on a daily basis. You may not be able to do many of the things you could normally do when pain-free. No one should live in pain if it can be treated. See your chiropractor right away.
We’ll give you a thorough evaluation and suggest the appropriate treatments for you. Effective treatment may require more than one session, but we’ll go over all the details once we examine you.
Call (517) 781-4884 or click here to make an appointment.
What are some of the best ways to relieve the pain of a pinched nerve yourself?
Before and after you are treated by a chiropractor, here are some things you can do to alleviate the pain from a pinched nerve.
- Rest. This means giving the affected or surrounding muscles and joints a rest, preventing any further use. If a specific movement is irritating the pain, avoid moving that way and isolate the area.
- Fix Your Posture. Bad posture is a huge proponent of pinched nerves. Sitting awkwardly or hunched over puts unnecessary stress on vulnerable parts of your neck and back.
- Stretch. Simply stretching out the stressed and pressed nerves gently and occasionally.
- Apply Ice And Heat. Rotate between applying heating pads and ice packs on the area; this is known as hydrotherapy. Apply the ice pack with light pressure to the swollen area for 15 minutes, 3 times per day.
- Use A Standing Workstation. Switching throughout the day from a sitting desk to a standing workstation is a great way to fend off any possible pinched nerves.
We know a pinched nerve can be excruciating and prevent you from everyday activities. But you don’t have to live with the pain. Come see us and we will help get you back to doing the things you enjoy.
Call (517) 781-4884 or click here.
To find out more about Dr. Ryan and Dr. Allyson and their chiropractic practice and philosophy, click here.
Learn more about their healthy lifestyle and get some great tips on making some small changes that will have huge benefits.