The Pinched Nerve To attend a FREE CLASS on this
Topic, click here.
As a Newburgh Chiropractor, I see this in my office every single
day. The challenge for most people is
they do not appreciate that they suffer from it to one degree or another every
day of their life. After all, it is THE MOST COMMON HEALTH CONDITION. Because of the
insidious nature of this condition, I’d like to help you appreciate both the
seriousness of this condition and what you can do about it to restore and
improve your health. After all, we are
talking about your happiness here.
The Pinched nerve
also goes by the name of Nerve Entrapment or Nerve Compression
To request an
Action Plan to address Pinched Nerve (Nerve Entrapment or Nerve Compression) Click Here
Introduction
to The Pinched Nerve
Nerves are like
electrical cords that carry information from the brain to the rest of the body
and vice-versa. They are distributed throughout the entire body.
- Motor (efferent) nerves carry information from the brain out to the body. This allows the brain to send commands to the various organs of the body. For example, these commands are sent to the muscles causing them to contract and move, or sends information to the heart to either beat faster or slower.
- Sensory (afferent) nerves send information from the body back to the brain for processing, including information about pain, touch, taste, temperature, or other sensations.
The information
travels along the nerve by an electrochemical signal, much like information
traveling along an electrical cord. When a nerve is pinched, the signal is
interrupted somewhere along its path.
What
causes a pinched nerve?
A pinched nerve
is caused due to 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.
Pinched
nerve in the neck or lower back
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.
Pinched
nerve in the wrist or elbow
A pinched nerve
in the wrist can be caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition is caused
by compression of the median nerve as it passes through confined tissues of the
wrist. This is most often due to a misalignment of one or more bones in the
wrist. Cubital tunnel syndrome is a similar condition caused by compression of
the ulnar nerve in the elbow. Both of these conditions are more common in
people with diabetes and people who perform repetitive activities such as a
typist, using a computer keyboard for long periods of time, or assembly line
workers.
Other
causes of pinched nerve
Swelling around a
nerve can be caused by an injury, bruise, or other conditions, including the
swelling of the extremities that can occur with pregnancy. An inherited tendency,
as manifested by a family history of a similar condition, can also increase an
individual's chance of developing a pinched nerve.
What
are the symptoms of a pinched nerve?
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).
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.
How
is a pinched nerve treated?
Chiropractic
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.
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.
To request an
Action Plan to address Pinched Nerve (Nerve Entrapment or Nerve Compression) Click Here
Yours to Consider
Health concerns
are a major source of lost happiness and lost joy in all of our lives. Finding
a solution that is agreeable and enables you to get back to your life is
important. Please appreciate that you always have the more invasive surgery and
prescription medication available to you as a last resort. What many
Traditional Medical Doctors may not share is, many times, once you begin that
journey into medication and/or surgery, it alters your original body from the
one that you were born with. Unfortunately, at that time, more conservative and
natural treatments may no longer be viable. I encourage you to consider that
before making any decisions about treatment for your health. As always I am
here to help.
Your Choice:
- Continue doing the same thing and nothing changes or it may get worse
OR
- Try something different and get a different result that makes you happier and healthier.
The Choice is
Yours
Please call Dr.
Huntoon at 845-561-BACK (2225) to discuss your options or click on our E-Visit to do it via e-mail.
Thank You for
your consideration.
