Chiropractic Takes the Pinch Out of Pinched Nerves
By Chris Brown
Radiculopathy, more commonly known as a pinched nerve, is a condition which is caused by pressure on nerves in the spine. Since nerves are the sensors for feeling throughout the body, including pain, a pinched nerve can cause widespread pain and difficulty moving. Pinched nerves can happen at any point along the spinal column, and be caused by a number of reasons, so the treatment styles can differ dramatically. However, chiropractic's expertise on spinal conditions has made it a primary treatment option for most types of pinched nerves.
Why Pinched Nerves Occur and Mainstream Treatments
Radiculopathy can be caused by several spinal problems which place pressure upon the spinal nerves. They can include a narrowing of the spinal column itself, herniated discs, bone spurs, thickening of spinal ligaments, or spinal infections.
The best way to fight pinched nerves is to reduce the risk of it in the first place, by building supportive back muscles and maintaining a healthy weight. Once an injury occurs, though, mainstream medical procedure is to find and evaluate the spinal point of injury (sometimes using imaging technology) and then prescribe anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy. However, the drugs themselves don't tend to resolve any causal factors and, sometimes, surgery is required. For those seeking a less invasive, drug-free treatment, chiropractic may be able to help.
Chiropractic Success Relieving Pinched Nerves
Because it deals primarily with subluxations of the spine, chiropractic is uniquely qualified to deal with the core problem of many spinal injuries, including pinched nerves. In a 2016 Chinese-based Wangjing Hospital study of 502 radiculopathy patients, moderate evidence was found in support of cervical spinal manipulation with a significant reduction in pain and immediate positive effects. A case study a few years prior (2012) in the Journal of Canadian Chiropractic Association saw a complete resolution of radiculopathy symptoms for a 55-year-old male, after six months of chiropractic treatments. This high degree of success was likely due to chiropractic's ability to fix the primary cause of the pinched nerves, strain-related dysfunction of the cervical spine. With chiropractic's potential abilities to permanently resolve pinched nerves, one should start with a chiropractor's evaluation before resigning themselves to an extended period of medication.
If you are suffering from a pinched nerve, the doctors at The Joint Chiropractic can help relieve the spinal pressure causing you pain. The Joint welcomes walk-in sessions and affordable treatments, so that the pinch in your neck doesn't move to your pocketbook after adjustments. With more than 600 clinics nationwide, The Joint is always nearby to resolve your pain.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Houston, Tex.