Pinched Nerve
How exactly does a nerve get pinched?
That's a complicated question that can be at least partially addressed
by
thinking of what happens when you hit your funny bone (mild trauma to
the Ulnar nerve) or put too much pressure on a limb and it falls
asleep. In both cases, a nerve was aggravated or 'pinched' and a
sensation of the event that caused the aggravation was felt. In the
spine, this can occur when there is swelling near where a nerve exits
between two vertebra ( the bones of the spine.) This can cause the
nerve to become irritated and result in symptoms of pain, numbness,
tingling, etc., as was previously mentioned. The causes for the
swelling can be a combination of many things. If the disc in between
the vertebra gets thinner due to over-work, damage from trauma, aging,
etc., there is less room for the nerve. Subluxation (misalignment) of
the vertebra reduces this space. Degenerative arthritis in the bones
and joints of the spine can cause inflammation and narrow the passage
for a nerve.
Does a nerve only get pinched at
the
spine? No, there are other areas of the body that can cause similar
symptoms. For instance, carpal tunnel is a condition that involves a
pinched nerve at the bones of the wrist, not the spine. Peroneal palsy
is a condition that causes foot drop (difficulty or inability to lift a
foot up at the ankle joint) and comes from damage to the Peroneal
nerve, usually around the knee area. Problems called trigger points in
muscles can mimic a pinched nerve sensation. There is even the commonly
encountered piriformis muscle spasm (a muscle in the buttock) that can
cause sciatica. Rarely, there can be direct pressure on the nerve from
a tumor, which can be benign or malignant (cancer.)
What
about problems with organs, like
poor
digestion? Well, in short, nerves do go to every organ in the body.
Also, studies have demonstrated that if an organ is in trouble there is
a reflex to the nerves of the spine. This is closely related to what
you may have heard of called referred pain. For instance, someone with
a gallbladder problem often complains of pain in the back, usually in
the right upper back or between the shoulder blades. If a nerve from
the mid-back area is being pinched, the nerve supply to everywhere that
nerve goes to, including the organ it supplies, could experience
problems. A Doctor of Chiropractor is trained and licensed in the
diagnosis and treatment of pinched nerves. In fact, correcting problems
caused by pinched nerves is the premise that Chiropractic was created
for. Through careful history, examination, and the aid of x-rays, or in
rare cases, if needed, computer tomography, or MRI. A Doctor of
Chiropractic can often determine if the cause of your symptoms are
related to a pinched nerve and recommend a treatment program, which may
include adjustment (manipulation) of misaligned vertebra (the bones of
the spine) to reduce or eliminate the pressure on the affected nerve or
nerves.
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DISCLAIMER:
Articles posted on this site are for informational purposes only.
Articles are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment. Users of
this site should consult with their doctors before making any decisions
regarding their health care.
Back Pain
| Neck Pain
| Headache
| Migraine
| Dizziness
| Pinched Nerve
| Numbness
| Tingling
| Sports Injury
| Whiplash
| Work Injury
Hip Pain
| Knee Pain
| Shoulder Pain
| Elbow Pain
| Carpal Tunnel
| Low Back Pain
| Sciatica
| Disc Condition
| Cold Hands / Feet
Arthritis
| Bursitis
| Tendonitis
| Asthma
| Stress
| Fatigue (CFS)
| Fibromyalgia
| TMJ (Jaw
Pain) | GI (Digestion)
| Other Symptoms
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