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Pinched Perfect: Relieving the Pressure of Pinched Nerves With Chiropractic Care

Reviewed by: Dr. Steven Knauf, D.C.

By: Janett King

Pinched-Perfect-Relieving-the-Pressure-of-Pinched-Nerves-With-Chiropractic-Care-Plus

When you’re living life with a nagging pain that won’t go away, it’s easy to feel like you’re stuck in a never-ending cycle of discomfort. Maybe it’s that constant ache in your neck or the tingling sensation running down your arm. If you’ve ever experienced this, you might be dealing with a pinched nerve. While it’s tempting to hope it’ll go away on its own, untreated pinched nerves can lead to long-term discomfort and restricted movement. But there’s good news: chiropractic care might be just the relief you seek.

What is a pinched nerve?

A pinched nerve occurs when surrounding tissues—such as bones, cartilage, muscles, or tendons- place excessive pressure on a nerve. This pressure can irritate or compress the nerve, causing discomfort and disrupting its normal function. Whether it's a sudden injury or long-term wear and tear, pinched nerves commonly cause pain and discomfort, especially in areas like the neck, back, or wrists.

Acute vs. chronic pinched nerves

Pinched nerves can be categorized as acute or chronic, depending on how they develop and how long they last.

  • Acute pinched nerve: This type happens suddenly, often due to an injury or movement. For example, something as simple as quickly twisting your neck or repetitive actions like drying your hair can compress a nerve. Acute pinched nerves are often temporary, with symptoms improving after a few days or weeks of rest and proper care. However, without proper treatment, the pain can persist or worsen, leading to more serious issues.
     
  • Chronic pinched nerve: Chronic pinched nerves develop over time due to ongoing pressure on a nerve. This pressure could be caused by spinal misalignment, aging, or repetitive strain. Unlike acute pinched nerves, chronic ones may not improve independently and can lead to long-term symptoms like persistent pain, numbness, or weakness. Conditions such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or arthritis are common contributors to chronic pinched nerves, and they often require more comprehensive care for relief.

What causes pinched nerves?

Pinched nerves can develop for various reasons, but most commonly, they result from mechanical stress on the spine or joints. For example, when the vertebrae in your spine shift out of alignment, they can compress nearby nerves. This is often due to poor posture, aging, injury, or repetitive movements.

Conditions such as a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or arthritis can also contribute to pinched nerves. When a disc in your spine slips or bulges out of place, it may press against a nerve root, causing symptoms. Similarly, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal) can lead to nerve compression. Poor posture also plays a major role in pinched nerves, especially when sitting or standing for long periods, which causes misalignments that stress the nerves.

In addition to these structural issues, lifestyle factors like repetitive motion, heavy lifting, or poor ergonomic habits can also contribute to pinched nerves. Your body can only withstand so much pressure before something gives way.

Areas that commonly experience pinched nerves

Pinched nerves can affect different areas of your body, and when left untreated, the pressure on these nerves can lead to persistent discomfort. The most common areas where pinched nerves are treated include:

  • Neck: Pinched nerves in the cervical spine (neck area) can cause radiating pain, tingling, or numbness in the arms, hands, or fingers. Herniated discs, misaligned vertebrae, or poor posture often cause this. If left untreated, this condition can worsen and affect your ability to perform everyday activities, from turning your head to lifting objects.
     
  • Back: The lower back is a common area for pinched nerves, often leading to sciatica, where pain radiates down the legs. Herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or misalignment of the spine can compress the nerve roots in the lumbar spine, resulting in discomfort that can be debilitating over time. Chiropractic care can help alleviate pressure and restore movement.
     
  • Wrists and hands: Carpal tunnel syndrome, a form of pinched nerve, commonly occurs in the wrist and is often caused by repetitive motions, poor ergonomics, or injury. This condition causes numbness, tingling, and pain in the hand and fingers, making everyday tasks difficult. Chiropractic adjustments and ergonomic changes can help relieve the pressure on the nerve and reduce symptoms.

Symptoms of a pinched nerve

Imagine waking up one morning with a nagging pain in your neck. As you try to turn your head, the pain sharpens, almost as if something’s pulling at the nerves inside. You shake it off, but then the tingling sensation creeps down your arm, making you wonder if it’s just your imagination. Then, as you reach for your coffee mug, your fingers feel numb—like they’re not even yours.

Depending on location, a pinched nerve can show up in various ways. Some of the most common symptoms include:

  • Pain: You might experience sharp or burning pain in your neck, back, or limbs, making it difficult to get through your day without discomfort.
     
  • Numbness or tingling: Often felt in your hands, fingers, arms, or legs, this sensation can leave you feeling like you’ve “lost control” of your body in certain areas.
     
  • Weakness: If the nerve that controls a muscle is pinched, it can cause it to feel weak, leaving you struggling to perform everyday tasks—like lifting a grocery bag or carrying a laundry basket.
     
  • Radiating pain: This is when pain travels from the site of the pinch down the arm or leg, sometimes making you wonder if it’s spreading to other parts of your body.

The pain tends to worsen with certain movements or activities. For example, bending your neck, reaching out, or lifting something heavy might intensify the discomfort, making it hard to find relief.

It’s a cycle of pain, numbness, and weakness that feels almost impossible to break. And while the symptoms may start mild, they can quickly become more persistent and severe, interfering with your ability to go about your day.

Risks of leaving a pinched nerve untreated

Ignoring the symptoms of a pinched nerve can lead to more than just prolonged discomfort. If left untreated, the pressure on the nerve may cause permanent nerve damage, muscle weakness, and loss of sensation. Over time, this could affect your ability to perform everyday tasks, from lifting groceries to walking or even holding a pen.

Beyond that, untreated nerve compression can lead to chronic pain and long-term health issues, impacting your mobility, posture, and overall quality of life. The sooner you address the issue, the better your chances of finding lasting relief and avoiding complications.

How chiropractic care helps with pinched nerves

Chiropractic care may be the answer if you're struggling with a pinched nerve. Chiropractors are trained to detect and treat the spinal misalignments that cause nerve compression. By using hands-on adjustments, chiropractors may relieve the pressure on the affected nerve, promoting healing and reducing pain and discomfort.

Through manual manipulation of your musculoskeletal structure (a.k.a. “chiropractic adjustments”), chiropractors may help restore proper alignment, which can help improve the function of the nervous system. Chiropractic adjustments promote better communication between your brain and body by reducing nerve interference, which helps reduce inflammation and support overall healing.

Why chiropractic is effective for pinched nerves

Chiropractic care offers a holistic approach to managing pinched nerves, focusing on treating the root cause rather than just masking symptoms.

Chiropractors most often use adjustments to improve the motion of the joint to relieve pressure from the nerve. They may also work on soft tissues like discs and muscles using a variety of treatments ranging from traction to massage, which may also be beneficial depending on how the nerve is being pinched. Once the affected area is moving better, the body starts to heal, and the symptoms accompanying a pinched nerve often improve.

  • Natural approach: Chiropractic care focuses on the body's healing ability. By adjusting misaligned spinal vertebrae and reducing nerve pressure, your body can start to heal naturally without relying on medications or invasive treatments.
     
  • Non-invasive: Chiropractic adjustments are gentle and non-invasive, meaning there’s no need for surgery or long-term reliance on painkillers. This makes chiropractic care an effective, less extreme option for treating pinched nerves.
     
  • Comprehensive care: Chiropractors don’t just focus on your spine. They strive to address your entire musculoskeletal system, taking a holistic view of your health to ensure that all aspects of your well-being are supported in the healing process.
     
  • Pain relief: Chiropractic adjustments may reduce pain and inflammation, offering quicker relief than some traditional treatments.
     
  • Support for long-term wellness: Beyond treating the immediate issue, chiropractic care can help prevent future occurrences of pinched nerves by improving posture, strengthening muscles, and maintaining spinal health.

Other treatment options for pinched nerves

While chiropractic care can be a highly effective treatment for pinched nerves, there are other options you may want to consider pairing with an adjustment, depending on your situation:

  • Physical therapy: Physical therapists use targeted exercises to strengthen muscles, improve posture, and reduce pressure on nerves.
     
  • Medications: While over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs or prescribed pain relievers are sometimes used to manage symptoms of a pinched nerve, it’s important to remember that these options only mask the pain and don’t address the root cause. It’s best to explore natural and holistic approaches to find long-term relief and recovery whenever possible.
     
  • Massage Therapy: Massaging tight muscles can help relieve tension around a pinched nerve, offering temporary pain relief.

Preventing pinched nerves

Imagine this: You’ve been hunched over your desk for hours, eyes glued to your screen, shoulders tense, and your spine curled like a question mark. Or perhaps you’ve spent the day on your feet, lifting, twisting, and pushing your body to its limits. These everyday habits might seem harmless, but they can set the stage for a painful, pinched nerve over time.

The good news? You can break the cycle before it starts. With a few mindful changes, you can protect your nerves, keep your spine healthy, and reduce the risk of discomfort. Here’s how:

  • Maintain good posture: Whether seated at a desk or hoisting heavy objects, align your posture to ease the strain on your spine and nerves. Think tall and straight, like a tree rooted firmly in the ground.
     
  • Strengthen muscles: Building a strong core and supportive muscles through regular exercise—especially strength training—helps stabilize your spine and prevent misalignments.
     
  • Take breaks: Long hours in the same position can wreak havoc on your body. Stand up, stretch, and move often to release tension and reduce pressure on your nerves.
     
  • Use ergonomic tools: Whether it’s an adjustable chair, a supportive keyboard setup, or an adequately aligned monitor, creating an ergonomic workspace helps prevent repetitive strain and keeps your body in balance.

With these small, intentional steps, you can protect your body and avoid the pain and frustration of a pinched nerve—before it even begins.

Your path to relief

A pinched nerve can be a real pain in the neck—literally and figuratively. But there’s no reason to live with the discomfort and limitations that come with it. Chiropractic care offers a natural, non-invasive way to treat the root cause of pinched nerves and help you regain control over your well-being. Chiropractic adjustments can relieve pain and discomfort by addressing misalignments in the spine and reducing pressure on the nervous system.

The experienced doctors at The Joint Chiropractic are here to help you find relief from pinched nerves and other wellness concerns. Whether it’s a nerve you just pinched or chronic discomfort holding you back, you don’t need an appointment—just walk in and start feeling better today. Relief is closer than you think.

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