Pinched nerves can be an annoying nuisance; they can also cause muscle weakness and pain, making daily living uncomfortable while stationary or getting around. So this begs the question, can a chiropractor help with a pinched nerve? And, what causes pinched nerves?
Pinched nerves are most commonly caused by the compression or involuntary squeezing of the nerve root. This nerve compression will happen between joints, discs, and even bones. The most common areas for people to experience nerve pain are the neck, spine, or lower back. Sadly, the dreaded “pins and needles” typically accompany a pinched nerve too.
A common and troublesome example of a pinched nerve is the condition of sciatica. Sciatica is a term to describe the pain and discomfort that occurs when a disc in the back slips or is herniated and pressure is applied to the sciatic nerve. The sensations that sciatica causes can be very painful, sharp, and numbing – many people suffering from sciatica describe it as “electric” and startling.
Sciatica is one of the more common and chronic pains that can happen because of nerve compression. If you’ve been looking for a chiropractor in Quincy or Braintree because of nerve pain or sciatica, this blog is for you!
Pinched Nerve Pain
Pinched nerve pain can be a chronic and painful experience. Back pain is one of the most commonly treated problems. These injuries can result from sitting in desk chairs for too long or previous accidents – a common effect of bad posture is injuries along the spine, leading to symptoms like sciatica or other back/lower back issues. About 85 out of every 100,000 adults in the US will experience pinched nerves. Spinal disc herniation is the common culprit for middle-aged adults.
There are rubbery cushions between each vertebra of your spine. The discs in our backs are full of jelly-like fluid, and when these discs herniate, the disc fluid will press on the sciatic nerve. Sciatica symptoms can include:
- Moderate to severe pain starting from the lower back, down the buttock, and into the leg.
- Pain that increases with movement or lack of movement.
- “Pins and needles” in the feet, toes, or legs.
- Weakness or numbness in the lower back area.
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Chiropractic Treatment for Pinched Nerves
The good news is that chiropractic treatment is a non-invasive way to relieve nerve pain. Studies have shown that chiropractic treatments can realign a patient’s spine and take pressure off affected areas of the back. Effective treatments are done using specific tools and controlled chiropractic adjustments – continued treatment can decrease inflammation around the discs and joints, freeing the nerves from compression.
Chiropractic Treatment for Sciatica
The same fundamental treatments for any pinched nerve are also effective at relieving sciatica. One of the most commonly used techniques to treat sciatica is manual manipulation – a hands-on technique designed to realign the spine and tackle root causes of sciatica.
If you or someone you know is suffering from sciatic or nerve pain in parts of the body, please reach out! Our team of in-house specialists, Dr. Jessica Rosner and Dr. Scott Rosner, have decades of combined experience treating pain and discomfort associated with pinched nerves.