Chiropractor Facts For Relief From A Pinched Nerve

A pinched nerve in the neck can be painful and may drastically affect your quality of life. The two most common causes of a pinched nerve in the neck are bone spurs and a herniated disc.

Bone spurs occur when arthritic degeneration results in bony growths on the vertebrae, placing pressure on the spinal nerves. They are more common in older people.

Herniated discs occur when the jelly-like interior substance of a spinal disc bulges out through the disc's protective outer coating, sometimes placing pressure on a nerve. Herniated discs appear to be more common in middle-aged people, especially males. Both of these situations might result in a pinched nerve in the neck.

Within the neck there are eight nerves, each with a nerve root exiting the spine at various levels. These levels are numbered from 1 to 7, and are numbered from top to bottom. Level 5 is usually known as C5, with the C standing for cervical (neck).

The nerve roots are responsible for sending and receiving messages to and from the arms. Received messages are sensory in nature, and include sensations of heat, cold, touch, and pain. Sent messages provide information about movement. A pinched nerve may result in the disruption of these messages.

The symptoms of a pinched nerve can vary, but may include a sharp pain in the shoulder and arm, as well as general soreness and stiffness when moving the head. Other possible symptoms include neck pain and headaches. However, the specific symptoms of a pinched nerve depend on where in the spine the pinched nerve is located. Chiropractors may be able to determine the position of the pinched nerve based on the particular symptoms being experienced. Pinched nerves are most often found at C6 and C7.

A pinched nerve at C5: sufferers may experience shoulder pain that affects the top of the arm, and numbness may also be an issue. Some patients may experience weakness that it makes it hard for them to lift their arm, while others might experience headaches.

A pinched nerve at C6: sufferers may experience pain that travels through the arm and down to the thumb, as well as accompanying numbness. The bicep and wrist may also feel week, and there may be evidence of carpal tunnel syndrome. A reflex test might be used to assess whether a pinched nerve is the cause of these symptoms.

A pinched nerve at C7: sufferers may experience pain down the arm and into the middle fingers, and accompanying numbness may be present. There may be weakness in the triceps and the elbow. A reflex test might be used to assess whether a pinched nerve is the cause of these symptoms.

A pinched nerve at C8: sufferers may feel pain and numbness down the arm and in the little finger. Fine motor movements in the hand might be affected. There are no reflex tests for pinched nerves at this level.

Your chiropractor may be able to perform chiropractic adjustments or manipulations to relieve the pressure on the pinched nerve. These adjustments may help to realign the spine, reducing pressure on the nerve. These treatments do not require medication, and are not invasive in nature. Your chiropractor will recommend a treatment plan after a thorough physical assessment and location of the source of the pinched nerve. He or she may also recommend special exercises and stretches designed to reduce symptoms and pain and to stop the pinched nerve from recurring in future.