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​​It’s about restoring function to your nervous system which coordinates every bodily function. People of all ages and walks of life, from differing professions and backgrounds experience amazing improvements with their health and wellness through the use of consistent chiropractic care.

​What exactly is a pinched nerve?

First, you will know when you have a pinched nerve, the pain can be excruciating and consequent weakness in certain areas can leave you immobile. Secondly, you will know when to seek attention for the pain. The cause is usually too much pressure directly on a nerve by surrounding tissues like bones, tendons, cartilage or muscles. You may also feel tingling and numbness, commonly occurring before pain and weakness set in. 

Most areas of your body are subject to potential nerve pinching, and the subsequent numbness and pain may be inevitable. Discs can herniate in your upper back and cause problems with neck pain, shoulders and arms and other extremities; and in your lower spine, herniation can put pressure on the nerve root and cause severe pain through your hips and down legs. This pain can be concentrated but it usually radiates outward and can be debilitating.  As a further example, a pinched wrist nerves may lead to hand numbness followed by searing pain referred to as carpal tunnel syndrome.  Most joints and spinal areas are susceptible.

​​Common Causes of Pinched Nerves

• Bones and cartilage are most common tissues that can pinch nerves.  Injuries that have not healed properly can move or calcify and impinge nerves. 
• Herniation, accidents and swelling will cause pinched nerves as well. 
• Bone spurs from trauma or bone thickening which can be caused by osteoarthritis may lead to a pinched nerve.  
• Inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis may compress the nerves in your joints. 
• Repetitive movement (mouse or screw driver use for example), can be a cause.   

 
People always fear permanent damage but nerves that are pinched for short periods will usually heal and return to normal in days or weeks without any lingering effects once pressure has been relieved. In cases where pressure continues to be present and causing ongoing pain, permanent nerve damage can occur and chronic pain can take hold.  Resting affected areas and conservative chiropractic treatments will give you a great chance to recover from a pinched nerve within days or sometimes weeks.  There are times when surgery is actually needed to relieve pain emanating from a pinched nerve, and a chiropractor can usually tell from x-rays and observation during care.