Your brain and nervous system form the core foundation of your body’s health and life. Your brain sends information through the spinal cord and out through the nerves to supply all of the organs, tissues, and cells of your body. Therefore, every function of your body depends on a healthy, functioning nervous system to keep you alive and healthy.
Your spinal cord is so essential to your health that it is encased in the bony shells of the spine and skull. These bony spinal vertebrae protect the delicate spinal cord and nerves, but their segmentation allows for some movement and flexibility.
When a nerve becomes “pinched,” that means that something is taking up space so that the nerve is being physically irritated and inflamed. Another, more technical term for this phenomenon is nerve radiculopathy. This is common where the nerve branches off the spinal cord and exits the spinal vertebra, as there is a small space through which it can pass.
As to what is taking up the nerve’s space and how that occurs, there are several potential causes. Sometimes, the ligament that spaces and cushions the spinal vertebrae, known as the vertebral disc, can become overstressed, causing a vertebral disc bulge or herniation. This stress originates from poor posture, biomechanical issues, and injuries. Poor posture and poor joint biomechanics can cause repeated traumas to the vertebral discs, gradually weakening their structure and leading to disc bulges. In less common cases, a person can experience an intense traumatic event, which can cause acute damage to the disc.
Additionally, the nerves can become pinched by bony structures or, very rarely, by other structures that invade the space, such as cysts. The bony structure of the spinal vertebrae can begin to impinge on the spinal nerve due to degenerative or arthritic changes. If a spinal vertebral joint has been moving improperly for a long enough period, it can cause degeneration of the vertebral disc, and bony spurs (osteophytes) can form, protruding from the vertebral body. These bony spurs can grow so large that they also pinch the nerve.
When a nerve is pinched, it affects the nerve’s ability to function normally. Because nerves control every function of your body, this can lead to a wide range of symptoms. The irritation and inflammation from the pinching can cause symptoms that radiate (travel) into other parts of your body. For example, “pinched nerves” in the neck can cause pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in your arm or hand. A “pinched nerve” in the lower back can cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in your legs and feet. Paying attention to where you feel symptoms outside your spine can help your chiropractor understand the source of the nerve irritation, as specific nerves control specific parts of your body.
Chiropractic care is an excellent way of treating pinched nerve issues. By adjusting a person’s posture and spinal vertebrae back into place, thereby improving joint mechanics, chiropractors help address the root cause of pinched nerve symptoms. This is key because, unless you address the underlying cause of the pinched nerve symptoms, they can often recur. Ultimately, relieving pressure on the spinal nerves has a positive impact on your health, as the nerve that was once stressed and irritated can function normally again.
$99 New Patient Special
We sit knee-to-knee for a detailed consultation on your primary concern to get an overall understanding of your health. We’ll assess your neurology, posture, and biomechanics during our thorough spinal discovery examination. X-rays may be taken to further identify the cause of your health issue.
How Our Care Plan Works
1. Freedom of Knowledge
Even in the worst of circumstances, it helps patients to know exactly what is going on. Through one-on-one doctor patient reports and group education lectures we empower our patients with the knowledge and understanding of their specific problem.
2. Freedom of Choice
The fact that you didn’t know you are supposed to care for your spine from birth is not your fault, but it is your responsibility. OUR responsibility is to guide you in the pathway to health. It’s your choice to decide how you want to participate in your health care.
3. Freedom of Health
Your health is your responsibility. Our job is to share our findings with you and lead and encourage you in the pathway to health. It’s your choice to decide how you want to participate in your health care and how you want to show up in life.
How We Treat Pinched Nerve Pain In Midtown East, NY
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
At Rowe Chiropractic Offices, the Doctors of Chiropractic perform a comprehensive exam to determine exactly what your health concerns and health goals are. When you meet with the doctors at our office, you will spend time thoroughly reviewing your medical history and conditions, and determining the best approach to your concern.
After you consult with our doctors, they will determine which examination you may need. This chiropractic examination will include assessing your posture and range of motion, performing any necessary neurological testing, and visual observation of the spine. The doctors will focus on the area of your concern, but will also analyze your body as a whole. If any additional imaging, such as X-rays, is warranted, we will discuss this with you and perform our X-rays in-house.
Specific Chiropractic Care in Midtown East, NY
A subluxation refers to a misalignment of the bones in your spine or a disturbance in your posture that affects how your nervous system functions. Your nervous system controls all of the functions of the body – it’s the master control center for all of your body’s functions. The nervous system works by sending information from your brain through your spinal cord and out through the branching nerves to supply all the organs, tissues, and cells. Therefore, it is vitally important to your health that your nervous system is functioning correctly. If a subluxation is present and is affecting the communication between your brain and body, it could lead to a variety of health conditions. The severity of the impact depends on the nerve affected, as well as the extent and duration of the influence on it.
Chiropractic care is a highly effective method for treating pinched nerve symptoms because it addresses the root cause. When your spinal vertebrae or posture subluxate, it alters the position of the bones in relation to one another. This alters the stress on the spinal discs and can cause disc bulging or herniation. It also alters the amount of space the nerve has to exit the spinal canal. All of these factors can lead to “pinching” or irritation of the nerve root. Doctors of Chiropractic are uniquely trained to identify where and how subluxations in your spine are positioned and to determine the best way to correct them.
The conventional treatment model for a pinched nerve typically begins with rest and the elimination of activities that aggravate the symptoms. While this may be effective in alleviating some symptoms, it overlooks the underlying pain. If the bones of your spine and your posture are misaligned, causing pinched nerve symptoms, the only way to truly correct the issue is to realign them.
Custom Therapeutic Exercise Plan
Therapeutic exercises are a crucial part of your nerve-relief plan for a pinched nerve. Specifically, it is essential to have a therapeutic exercise plan tailored to your unique spinal postural subluxation. When parts of our posture are misaligned, it can put stress on the flexible spinal discs and on the nerves that exit the spine. This irritates the spinal nerves and can lead to a variety of symptoms, including pain that, in some cases, can radiate into the arms and legs.
The best nerve pain exercises are those that help move your body in the opposite direction of its subluxation. It is essential to allow your chiropractor to use their tools to determine the exact nature of your subluxation pattern, so that you can effectively correct it. Your chiropractor may use a combination of posture analysis, observation of movement, and X-ray analysis to help determine the best postural corrective therapeutic exercises for you.
Common Causes of Pinched Nerve in Midtown East, NY
Subluxation
A subluxation is a term for a bone in the spine or part of your posture that has misaligned and is affecting the nervous system as a result. Subluxations can occur in various ways; some develop gradually over time, while others occur rapidly following an accident or injury.
When a subluxation affects the nervous system, this can result in a variety of different conscious and subconscious symptoms. Your nervous system is the master control center of your body. Every function that dictates your brain and nerves controls your health. Sometimes, subluxations can affect the portion of the nerve that controls sensation, causing pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the area where the nerve is affected. Sometimes, subluxations can affect the part of the nerve that controls other body functions, such as organ function, and you may not be consciously aware of it.
Doctors of Chiropractic are the only professionals trained to identify and correct spinal subluxations. Chiropractors are specialists in detecting spinal subluxations and determining the most effective course of treatment to fix them. There are many different ways a subluxation of the spinal vertebrae or a misalignment of your posture can occur, so it is essential to receive a thorough and accurate analysis, as well as a customized treatment plan. Your chiropractor will also provide you with tools and lifestyle suggestions to help prevent subluxation from recurring.
Arthritis
There are two main categories of arthritis: an inflammatory type, in which the body’s immune system attacks its own cells, and a degenerative type, in which joints are not moving correctly. Specifically, we will discuss degenerative arthritis, a prevalent issue.
Degenerative arthritis occurs when a joint is not moving optimally, leading to increased physical stress on the joint. Due to this stress, the body attempts to stabilize the joint by calcifying the surrounding tissues and ligaments. This can lead to the formation of extra bony growths on existing bone, known as bone spurs or osteophytes.
In the spine, degeneration of joints can present as osteophytic changes, disc degeneration, and degeneration of the spinal joints themselves. On X-ray imaging, this will appear as decreased disc space and damage to the bone edges. These degenerative changes can cause pinched nerve symptoms by narrowing the space through which the nerves must traverse the spinal canal and the vertebral foramen, where the spinal nerve exits.
Chiropractic care is effective in helping pinched nerve symptoms, even when caused by arthritic changes in the spine. If the spinal joint can resume healthy movement and function, the stress on the joint is alleviated. This stress reduction slows the degenerative process, allowing the nerve to function more normally. The best way to help the joint alignment and movement is through chiropractic care and a specific course of treatment to address that person’s spinal issue.
Bulged and Herniated Disc
The discs in your spine can also play a significant role in the symptoms of a pinched nerve. The vertebral discs are the ligamentous joints that cushion and support the spinal vertebrae. Poor biomechanics and improper weight-bearing due to subluxations lead to microtears and disc damage. When this damage occurs, the disc is no longer a strong unit and begins to bulge from its normal position. When this bulge occurs, it can put pressure on the spinal nerve, leading to symptoms that radiate to other parts of the body.
A disc herniation is a more severe form of the disc bulge described above. When a disc has sustained sufficient damage and is subjected to inappropriate weight-bearing, the outer layers of the disc will begin to break down. This allows the inner substance of the disc, which has a more gelatinous consistency, to migrate out of the disc and into the spinal canal.
When these disc bulges and herniations occur, they can cause a range of symptoms. Depending on how the nerve is being affected, you may feel more localized pain in the area affected. Or, you can experience symptoms in other parts of your body, like your arms, hands, legs, and feet. These typically cause symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness.
The best approach to correcting these disc injuries is to address the underlying cause and remove the stress on the vertebral disc. To reduce the stress to the vertebral disc, the malpositioning of the conjoining vertebrae or of the posture must be addressed. This is best done through a chiropractor’s specific analysis to determine how the disc injury is occurring and the best tools to correct it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a chiropractor in Midtown East, NY, suitable for a pinched nerve?
Yes, our chiropractors at Rowe Chiropractic Offices are well-equipped to treat pinched nerve issues.
Should I see a doctor or a chiropractor for a pinched nerve in my neck?
A chiropractor is the best stop to correct pinched nerve symptoms. Traditional treatment protocols address the issue with rest or medication to relieve symptoms. Chiropractic care aims to correct the spinal issue causing nerve pinching physically.
Can a chiropractor make nerve pain worse?
It is essential to find the right chiropractic provider who has the best tools to address your problem. At Rowe Chiropractic Offices, we use information gathered from the consultation, examination, and imaging to determine the best course of treatment.
What is the fastest way to get rid of a pinched nerve?
The fastest way to alleviate a pinched nerve is to address the underlying issue causing the pinching. There are various techniques we use at Rowe Chiropractic Offices that can gently and effectively reduce the stress on your nerves, which can cause pinching.
How do chiropractors in Midtown East, NY know where to adjust?
Our chiropractors at Rowe Chiropractic Offices have received extensive training in evaluating and adjusting patients to address their health concerns. We use an in-depth consultation, examination, and X-ray imaging to determine the best course of action for addressing any issues we may identify in your spine.
How long does it take for a pinched nerve to heal?
The time it takes for a pinched nerve to heal can vary significantly, depending on the duration and severity of the issue. Your chiropractor should provide you with a better understanding of the injury’s severity after conducting their examination and analysis.
What happens if you let a pinched nerve go untreated?
If your pinched nerve goes untreated, it will continue to worsen. Sometimes, from a symptomatic perspective, your body can stabilize the damage, and you may temporarily feel relief from pinched nerve symptoms. Sometimes the issue worsens, and at other times it may come and go. The key is that even if you feel symptomatically relieved, but have not actively worked to correct the issue, the underlying cause of the pinching will remain and worsen.
How often should you see a chiropractor?
How often you should see a chiropractor depends on whether you have subluxations and the condition of these subluxations.
What does it feel like to pinch a nerve?
A pinched nerve can commonly cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms and legs.
$99 New Patient Special
We sit knee-to-knee for a detailed consultation on your primary concern to get an overall understanding of your health. We’ll assess your neurology, posture, and biomechanics during our thorough spinal discovery examination. X-rays may be taken to further identify the cause of your health issue.
