Seeing a Chiropractor For a Pinched Nerve

Having a pinched nerve is very common among adults. With unpleasant and persistent symptoms such as sharp pain, numbness, muscle spasms, reduced mobility, or pins and needles sensations, pinched nerves are impossible to ignore. 

Seeing a chiropractor for a pinched nerve has been found to reduce these symptoms in most people, making chiropractic care an efficient, and non-invasive solution to this pressing problem. 

Find out more about what pinched nerves are, what causes them, and how chiropractic treatment can help.

What Is a Pinched Nerve?

A pinched nerve is an obstructed nerve that becomes inflamed and does not function properly anymore. The term usually refers to nerves that get compressed due to several causes such as inflammation, fractures, sprains, or tumors.

Although rest and home treatments are many times sufficient for recovery, pinched nerves can also become serious, cause chronic pain, or lead to permanent nerve damage.

Pinched nerves can occur almost anywhere in the body from the spinal area to the upper chest, the arms, the elbows, or the wrists and the hands. However, spinal nerves are the ones that are most commonly impacted.

Common Symptoms Related To Pinched Nerves

Some of the most common symptoms of a pinched nerve include:

• Sharp shooting pain - Mechanical obstructions of the nerves influence them directly, causing sharp pain. Many patients will experience pulsations and shootings up and down the affected area.

• Decreased sensations in certain areas of the body - A feeling that a certain area has fallen asleep is a sign that the nerve's function is affected. 

• Pins and needles - Experiencing feelings of pins and needles is a sign that the nervous route is affected, but not closed off entirely.

Common Causes Of Pinched Nerves

Depending on the affected area and the issue causing the obstruction, many conditions can induce tissue or bone to compress a nerve and cause symptoms.

These include:

• Obesity impacts the posture, the vertebrae, and the cartilaginous discs between the vertebrae, leading to herniated disks. These, in turn, lead to pinched nerves by forcing the nerve to move along with the dislodged disk and compressing certain areas of it.

• Fractures and sprains.

• Inflammation.

• Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation of the joints and spine, which in turn leads to nerve compression.

• Trauma such as fractures and sprains is the most common cause of the mechanical compressions leading to pinched nerves.

• Improper ergonomics affect the spine and how it is aligned, which, in turn, leads to compressions.

• Pregnancy: the extra weight gained during pregnancy can result in compressed nerves.

• Overuse during intense training can impact joints and certain areas of the spine, causing nerve inflammation, commonly affecting the cartilaginous portion of the joints.

• Diabetes: high sugar levels in the blood are known to affect the nerves.

Should I See a Doctor Or a Chiropractor For a Pinched Nerve?

Depending on the cause of the pinched nerve, you may have to see both a medical doctor and a chiropractor. 

In the case of pinched nerves caused by improper ergonomics, obesity, arthritis, pregnancy, or overuse, a chiropractor can provide full treatment.

However, in complex cases such as fractures, sprains, or tumors, seeing a medical doctor is essential.

A healthcare provider will try to find the source of your pinched nerve by physically examining your neck, arms, shoulders, or wrists, and by checking for muscle weakness and changes in reflexes. If the pain is persistent and doesn’t respond to treatment, X-rays, CTs, or even an MRI may be required for proper diagnosis.

Whatever the cause of your pinched nerve might be, medical doctors and chiropractors can make a good team for the best treatment. 

In fact, it’s not at all uncommon for doctors to refer patients to chiropractors because chiropractic care offers a long-term solution for pain relief without the use of surgery, over-the-counter pain relievers, or corticosteroids.

Integrated Physical Medicine combines the best of allopathic medicine and alternative treatments. With our team integrating both medical doctors and chiropractors, whatever their diagnosis, patients can consult with our in-house physicians instead of being referred elsewhere. This means you can get the help you need, in a shorter amount of time.

Can a Chiropractor Really Treat a Pinched Nerve?

Yes, chiropractic adjustments can be extremely beneficial in a wide range of pinched nerve cases. When nerve compression occurs because of inflammation caused by improper ergonomics, the chiropractor can help by realigning the spine in a correct position.

The principle of chiropractic treatment is to realign the spine to aid the nervous and vascular ways surrounding the area to find their correct alignment too. This is one of the most efficient treatments for pinched nerves. 

For best results, a series of chiropractic sessions are required, during which the vertebrae will be aligned little by little. As the vertebrae get closer and closer to their physiological position, the inflammation is reduced, which, in turn, decreases the symptoms of the pinched nerves too. Once the chiropractic sessions are completed, the symptoms can be eliminated entirely. 

However, the treatment requires the patient’s long-term implication in changing unhealthy habits and preventing the causes of pinched nerves.

Improving Your Overall Health

Not all pinched nerves can be prevented, but in our office, your chiropractor will also provide you with advice on how to improve your health to actively prevent the issues leading to pinched nerves in the first place. 

Switching to a balanced diet, rich in foods that supports the strength of the joints, bones, nerves, and the vascular system, as well as adopting an ergonomic position during work hours, but also during sleeping, are only some examples of the healthy changes that come with chiropractic treatment. 

All of them can make a world of difference in the treatment of pinched nerves.

For long-lasting results, patients are advised to visit their chiropractors regularly for a reassessment, and, if necessary, for a new series of chiropractic adjustments that can maintain the spine in its correct position. 

Successful treatment of pinched nerves requires a holistic approach, which is exactly what our chiropractors provide to patients. 

In more complex cases, we’ll work alongside your doctor to provide the full course of treatment. Pinched nerves are manageable, but you must remain invested in their treatment plan for the long run.

To find out more about how chiropractic can help you live a pain-free life, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We offer a FREE consultation, call (310) 540-9796 or request an appointment today.