A pinched nerve occurs when tissue, such as a bone, muscle, tendons, or cartilage, presses too hard against a nerve. This pressure disrupts the way the nerve functions and causes symptoms of a pinched nerve. A variety of injuries and conditions can cause symptoms of pinched nerves; these symptoms can significantly decrease the quality of a person’s life and prevent him or her from engaging in activities of daily living. Fortunately, our pinched nerve doctors can treat and help manage pinched nerves. Nerves are fibers that transmit impulses from the body to the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord, and transmit impulses from the central nervous system to organs and muscles. A bundle of nerves forms the spinal cord. These nerves exit the spinal cord through small holes in the spinal column and then go to the far reaches of the body. Problems that occur in the nerve can affect other parts of the body served by that nerve. A problem with a nerve in the lower back can cause pain down one leg, for example, while a nerve problem in the wrist may cause symptoms in the fingers and hand. Nerves can also impinge on the neck.
The root cause of a pinched nerve is pressure from nearby tissue, but several conditions can cause this pressure. A herniated disc may press against a nerve to cause excessive pressure, also known as compression. Rubbery discs act as cushions to prevent the bones of the spine from grinding together as a person moves. Over time, these discs can crack or herniate to allow the gooey interior of the disc to ooze out and press against the nerve. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a type of pinched nerve. In this condition, tissue inside the tiny carpal tunnel in the wrist can press against the median nerve.
Chiropractors can diagnose and help manage pinched nerves and the symptoms of pinched nerves. To make an accurate diagnosis, our pinched nerve doctor will ask about symptoms and conduct a physical examination. Rest and non-prescription anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help alleviate symptoms of a pinched nerve. Alternating ice and heat can help, as can massaging the affected area. In some cases, though, patients require chiropractic care for the treatment of a pinched nerve. Chiropractic care is a safe, effective, non-invasive, and drug-free approach to the treatment of pinched nerves.
Chiropractors perform a wide variety of treatments for pinched nerves. The treatment our chiropractor recommends largely depends on the specific pinched nerve and its severity. Gentle spinal adjustments and flexion distraction can help realign out-of-place vertebrae, relax tight muscles, and reduce pressure on a compressed nerve. Massage therapy, cryotherapy, decompression therapy, and physiotherapy alleviate pressure on the nerve. Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA), a non-invasive procedure that treats neck pain that may not be treatable by standard chiropractic adjustments, maybe the best choice for some patients. If you think you have a pinched nerve, Zaker Chiropractic can help. Our chiropractors provide a wide variety of services to diagnose and treat pinched nerves. We treat every patient as an individual and provide as much information as possible about the condition and treatment of each patient we see. Zaker Chiropractic has several locations to serve you. Call (949) 734-4454 for an appointment with Newport Pain & Wellness, (424) 235-1562 for South Bay Pain & Wellness, or (310) 831-0003 for an appointment with San Pedro Pain & Wellness. Each clinic offers a multidisciplinary list of services.
At Zaker Chiropractic, we have worked hard to make sure to answer all of our patient's questions. We know that our patients are going to have questions from time to time and one of the most common conditions that we see in our practice is called a pinched nerve. The nerves travel to almost every location in the human body. They start in the brain before they leave the skull and travel down the spinal cord before they exit the rest of the body. When someone comes to see us for a pinched nerve in the neck or a pinched nerve in the back, there are a few common questions that we get. Rely on a chiropractor for a pinched nerve treatment. Nerve impingement can be a serious issue.
