Have you ever experienced your foot “falling asleep” after sitting in one position for too long? The numb, tingling feeling seems innocent enough, but it is actually an indication of a pinched nerve. Mild experiences with a pinched nerve like this are actually very common, and it’s usually fixed by moving your body and relieving pressure on the nerve. But in some cases, pinched nerves can’t be resolved this easily and require you to visit a chiropractor in Conyers. Some pinched nerves can be caused by spinal or muscular issues and a chiropractic adjustment can help you find relief.
Identifying a Pinched Nerve
Just like your foot falling asleep, symptoms of a mild pinched nerve usually include tingling or numbness, the “pins and needles” feeling you may be used to occasionally. Other symptoms can last longer, recur over time, or even be constant. Any of these scenarios is a sign you should visit a chiropractor in Conyers for relief. Other symptoms that mean you should seek care include muscle spasms, shooting pain, weakness or pain in muscles, and decreased sensation in the impacted area.
In a severe or untreated case, you could begin losing the use of an extremity like an arm or a leg.
Causes of a Pinched Nerve
Pinched nerves can occur in a variety of ways, and may even lead to conditions that impact the nervous system or musculoskeletal system. Cases can range from mild to severe depending on placement. Below are some common causes.
Poor Posture
If you work at a desk all day, you’re susceptible to something known as “tech neck,” which occurs when our bodies slouch over keyboards, phones, or other devices. This can lead to an unnatural curve in the spine or neck. Poor posture like this can cause a pinched nerve as the spine becomes misaligned. On the good side, changing your posture may relieve neck pain.
Spinal Misalignment
Spinal misalignments can occur in all sorts of ways and frequently cause disruptions to the nervous system, as the spinal columns house all the nerves in the nervous system. A vertebra being slightly out of place or misaligned is enough to cause an interruption in nerve communication. These issues may cause pressure or compression on a nerve, such as in a pinched nerve.
Herniated Discs
When one of the cushion-like discs between the vertebrae moves out of place or ruptures, it can compress a nerve in the surrounding area. This can often occur with the sciatic nerve, leading to shooting pains down the lower half of the body, a condition known as “sciatica”.
Carpal Tunnel
Most people think of carpal tunnel as occurring as a result of repetitive overuse of a hand or wrist, like from typing or writing too much. What is actually occurring when you suffer from carpal tunnel is that the median nerve, a specific nerve in the wrist, is compressed. This can lead to tingling, numbness, weakness or pain in the hand and wrist. Carpal Tunnel typically worsens over time without treatment.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Inflammation of the soft tissues near a nerve can cause that nerve to become pinched- this is extremely common in people who have rheumatoid arthritis. When the soft tissue surrounding your joints become inflamed, nerves in the area can be compressed and cause significant pain or discomfort. Many people cite tingling and numbness as a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis because of the pinched nerves.
Nerve Damage
One of the more severe conditions that stem from a pinched nerve is nerve damage, in which the nerve isn’t temporarily compressed, but severely damaged. This often occurs in injuries that involve blunt force trauma, like car accident injuries.
Treating a Pinched Nerve
In mild cases, a pinched nerve may clear up on its own once your body adjusts and pressure is removed from the nerve. However, in moderate or severe cases, the problem will worsen or reoccur if it is not treated properly. Without treatment, a compressed nerve can lead to nerve damage or other serious conditions.
When you visit a chiropractor in Conyers, they will be able to use manual adjustments and physical therapy to address any misalignments that may be causing the issue. They can also offer therapies like hot and cold therapy to address adjacent problems.
At AICA Conyers, our chiropractors work with neurologists, orthopedists, and physical therapists to ensure the root cause of your pinched nerve is addressed. By creating and providing comprehensive and individualized treatment plans, AICA Conyers is able to not only relieve the symptoms of a pinched nerve but treat the root cause and prevent recurrences in the future.