SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of a pinched nerve depend on what nerve is affected. Each nerve is responsible for sending information to or from specific parts of the body. This can be different organs, glands or muscles.

The most common symptoms of a pinched nerve are:

• pain,
• numbness,
• tingling (pins and needles), or
• weakness of the muscles along the path of the nerve.

A pinched nerve sensation may feel like, for example, the sensation when a part of your body has "fallen asleep." A pinched nerve can cause symptoms at the site of damage, or any location further down the path from the affected nerve.

A pinched nerve in the neck can cause neck pain or stiffness, along with symptoms down the arm.

A pinched nerve in the lower back causes back pain and stiffness with symptoms down the leg. A doctor can often identify which nerve is pinched in the neck or lower back based on what portion of the patient's arm or leg is affected.

A pinched nerve in the wrist from carpal tunnel syndrome typically affects the thumb, index, and middle fingers. It can also cause a weakness in the patient's grip strength, and atrophy of the muscle of the palm near the thumb.

A pinched nerve in the elbow from cubital tunnel syndrome affects the forearm, the ring (fourth finger), and the small fingers of the hand.

A pinched nerve to an organ or gland will result in a lessening of function in that organ or gland. This will result in dysfunction of the associated organ or gland which could result in symptoms such as digestive imbalances (colitis, IBS) or hormonal imbalances such as thyroid problems (Hypothyroidism) or pancreas problems (Diabetes).

Symptoms

A pinched nerve is caused by stress that a person cannot adapt to in a balanced way. Stress, when experienced by the body, causes muscles to tighten and results in a pulling on the bones they attach to. The bone then moves out of its normal position to create pressure on the nerve. This can be

• direct pressure, like from a disc herniation or a bone spur, or it can be
• indirect pressure from fluid and swelling.

Either way, pressure on the nerve can create nerve damage.

When a nerve is somehow damaged or injured by direct pressure or compression and is unable to properly conduct its signal, the body fails to function properly. This may create symptoms of pain, although this does not have to be the case. Undetected nerve stress is a major underlying cause of many health conditions. There are many potential causes for a pinched nerve, depending on the location of the nerve. The most common cause of a pinched nerve is a mis-aligned vertebrae (spinal segment) known as a subluxation.

A pinched nerve in the neck or lower back can be caused by a herniated disc, arthritis, bone spurs, spinal stenosis or misaligned vertebrae (subluxation). Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal through which the nerves pass with the spine. A pinched nerve in the lower back or buttock can compress the sciatic nerve, which can cause sciatica.

Medication

Various medications can also be used to treat a pinched nerve. Anti-inflammatory medications, for example, ibuprofen or naproxen can reduce the inflammation (swelling) around the affected nerve. Other medications used specifically for nerve related pain include gabapentin (Neurontin) or pregabalin (Lyrica). This form of care should be used after, or in conjunction with Chiropractic care.

As with all medication, potential side-effects can and often do result which need to be considered before beginning any medication. Discuss these potential side-effects with your doctor or pharmacist before beginning any medication. Read up on the possible side-effects and complications of the medication on the official website for the medication.

Physical Therapy
Physical therapy can assist to stretch and strengthen specific muscles in the body, which helps relieve the pressure on the pinched nerve. This should always be considered in conjunction with chiropractic care. Many chiropractic offices offer physical therapy as an adjunct to their chiropractic care.

Surgery
Always considered a last resort, if the symptoms from a pinched nerve do not improve with the above treatments, surgery may be recommended. Surgery may also be recommended if the patient develops additional weakness in the muscles, or if the particular nerves being pinched cause loss of control of the bowel or bladder (cauda equina syndrome). These are signs of more severe nerve damage.

Surgery for a pinched nerve depends on the location of the nerve being pinched. If the pinched nerve is in the wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome) or elbow (cubital tunnel syndrome), the surgeon can release the tissues over the nerve in the wrist or elbow to free the nerve tissue pressure. What to consider is the scar tissue associated with the surgery can lead to future nerve pressure and the symptoms may come back.

If the pinched nerve is in the neck or lower back a spine surgeon or neurosurgeon can remove a portion of the disc or bone spurs that are compressing the nerve in the spine. In some cases, if it is necessary to remove large portions of bone or disc, the surgery may require a spinal fusion to stabilize the spine after freeing the nerve.

What is a Patient's Prognosis for a Pinched Nerve?

In most cases, patients with a pinched nerve are able to recover completely without any long lasting symptoms. Most patients respond well to conservative treatment including chiropractic care, rest, activity modification, ice, physical therapy, and medications.

Surgical operations are typically only recommended for people who do not improve with the conservative treatment or if they have worsening muscle weakness. The longer a patient has symptoms of a pinched nerve, and the worse the symptoms become, the less chance there is for a full recovery. Pain, numbness and tingling usually recovery completely with treatment. If a person develops weakness or wasting of the muscles he or she should see a doctor as soon as possible to prevent any permanent nerve damage.

Pinched Nerve At A Glance

Nerves carry electrical signals from the brain to the body and vice-versa.

A pinched nerve can cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness along the path of the pinched nerve.

A pinched nerve affecting your organs or glands may create dysfunction in your normal functioning related to digestion, immunity, or hormonal health.

Most people improve from a pinched nerve with chiropractic care. Rest, ice, medication or physical therapy are also helpful for symptom relief.

Weakness or wasting of the muscles from a pinched nerve can suggest permanent nerve injury.

Medicines Two Choices for You

Chiropractic: Your First and Best Option

Chiropractic is the only profession whose treatment and goal is to detect and correct the cause of pinched nerves, a condition called Subluxation.

A pinched nerve in the spine will require chiropractic treatment designed to gently relieve the pinched nerve through spinal manipulation.

A pinched nerve affecting the arms or legs would require understanding where the nerve is being affected and then developing a treatment program designed to eliminate the pinching by manipulation of the area where the nerve is being pinched. This can be the shoulder, elbow, wrist or hand in the upper extremity, or low back, hip, knee or ankle if it is in the lower extremity.

Chiropractic is the best way to address the cause of your pinched nerve and should always be considered first when you have a pinched nerve.

Support braces

In many cases a pinched nerve can be treated with rest and ice. If the pinched nerve is in the arm (carpal tunnel syndrome or cubital tunnel syndrome) the doctor may recommend a brace for a short period of time. The brace limits the amount of movement around the nerve, which allows it to rest and recover. The brace also prevents the patient from movements that may further compress or pinch the affected nerve. A brace used for carpal tunnel syndrome covers the wrist and is extended slightly back. This is because during flexion (bending the wrist down) the median nerve in the wrist is further pinched. The brace for cubital tunnel syndrome in the elbow can be used to keep the elbow from bending too much which further stretches the ulnar nerve.

Support braces should only be used when treatment cannot be given, or between treatments while recovering from injury. They should not be used in place of treatment, as bracing will create weakness in the area being braced, which can lead to other problems and further nerve injury.

How is a Pinched Nerve Diagnosed?

The doctor will begin by asking the patient various questions about his or her pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, and other symptoms. The patient may also be asked about other medical conditions, work history, and family medical history. This information can often assist in identifying the nerve(s) affected.

The doctor will then examine the part of the body involved. This may include testing the patient's strength, sensation, and muscle tone in specific muscles. Depending on the results of the medical history and the physical examination, the patient may need additional tests.

If the doctor suspects the patient has a pinched nerve (compression of the nerves) in the neck or lower back, X-rays may be necessary to assess possible injury to the spine or arthritis of the spine. Depending on the severity and duration of the patient's symptoms, he or she may also need a CT scan or an MRI scan. These imaging studies provide additional information about a pinched nerve not seen on regular X-rays, and can provide additional information in preparation for surgical intervention if necessary.

The doctor may also recommend specific tests for the affected nerve including a Nerve Conduction Study or an Electromyography (EMG).

• In the nerve conduction study, the test stimulates the nerves with a mild electrical impulse and measures speed of the impulse traveling in the nerve.
• In the EMG, a small needle is placed into the muscle while the patient contracts the muscle to measure the electrical activity of the muscles.
  

Chiropractic First

It is always best to use a conservative approach first. Chiropractic and working with a Holistic Chiropractor is the best place to start. This will usually remedy the situation and help you understand how to take care of your spine and prevent the condition from ever coming back.

Dr. Huntoon helps eliminate this condition in his office every day. If you suffer with a pinched nerve and you want it to, not only, go away, but understand how you developed it and what is required to keep it from ever coming back, give us a call at 845-561-2225.

If after a course of treatment you are not better, consider talking to your physician. At Advanced Alternative Medicine Center, this has never happened.

Massage, acupuncture, physical therapy are also effective at reducing the pain and chiropractic is the only treatment that removes the pressure off the nerve without harmful side effects or permanent damage associated with failed surgery.