It seems to be one of the more common pain related complaints that we get, and considering how common they are and how easy it is for them to occur, it’s no wonder why we see them so much.
The first thing that you need to understand is that the term “pinched nerve” serves as a catch all for many different types of conditions whether it’s sciatic type pain, cervical radiculopathy, thoracic radiculopathy, double crush syndrome, and more. If you’re not familiar with those names, don’t worry, they basically all refer to pain starting from the spine and then being referred along a nerve. The ‘pinching’ of the nerve occurs when the spine is injured, or put out of position, either suddenly or gradually over time. This abnormal spinal alignment increases stress on the joints and can cause irritation to nerve roots which most often results in pain, but can just as easily cause burning, numbness, and tingling.
In order to effectively get rid of these symptoms for good, you need to target the source of the pain. Different over the counter meds like aspirin, ibuprofen, etc. may help to reduce them temporarily, while more invasive methods like epidural steroid injections, nerve root ablations, or facet blocks may help to reduce them more long term. However, the major limitation of these types of treatment is that they are just focused on the symptoms, and do nothing to address the irritation or stress that is causing the nerve pain in the first place. The problem continues to worsen, while the symptoms are hidden, and most often return some time down the line having increased in severity.
The goal of chiropractic, and what we do in our office, is to address the problem directly while managing symptoms. If the pinched nerve pain is stemming from a spinal issue, either from injury, spinal misalignment, or stress, we can work with the patient’s spine to reduce those problems. By adjusting the patient’s spine, either by hand or with an instrument, we can reduce the pressure and irritation on the nerves and give the patient some relief. This process is very effective and can occur very quickly too.
Pain stemming from a pinched nerve is a structural issue, and should be treated with a structural approach first. As chiropractors, our focus has always been on structure primarily, and how improving the health of your spine can help with nerve pain. If you or anyone you know is suffering from pain due to a pinched nerve, please call us anytime at 302-368-1300! We always offer complimentary consultations for our new patients and are happy to answer any questions you may have.
*Individual Results May Vary
